FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued a statement on July 6, 2026, clarifying his interactions with former President Donald Trump concerning the suspended one-game ban of USA World Cup player Folarin Balogun.

Infantino acknowledged receiving a call from Trump, stating, "Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues."

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 been given a similar red card.

Infantino stressed the autonomy of FIFA's judicial process, saying, "FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent and operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them."

He further explained that during his conversation with Trump, he informed him about the ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. "That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold," Infantino added.

Regarding the red card decision, Trump commented, "The referee’s decision to red card, 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."

Trump also remarked that removing Balogun from the championship would have "really stained this incredible championship."

Sources