FIFA President Gianni Infantino released a statement on July 6, 2026, addressing his interactions with former President Donald Trump amid scrutiny over USA World Cup player Folarin Balogun’s suspended one-game ban.

Infantino confirmed that he regularly discusses FIFA World Cup matters with the President of the United States and acknowledged receiving a call from Trump concerning Balogun’s red card. He noted that such calls are common from various heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders, and business executives worldwide.

Trump told reporters he asked Infantino if FIFA would review the play that led to Balogun’s red card. Trump expressed that the reaction would be the same if star players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Harry Kane had received a similar red card.

Infantino emphasized that FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent and operate autonomously, applying the FIFA Disciplinary Code to decide cases based on regulations and specific facts. He explained to Trump that an ongoing legal process was underway and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies.

Regarding the red card decision, Trump said, “All I did was, I asked for a review, because I didn’t think it was a foul,” adding, “I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything that would be different.”

Infantino also remarked on the power of issuing a red card, stating, “I didn’t know what the hell a red card was and when I found out I said, ‘You gotta be kidding.’ … I said, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of power, that’s terrible.’ And then I looked at his past and it wasn’t so great.”

He further commented that removing Balogun from the competition would have “really stained this incredible championship.”

Sources