Trump says he asked FIFA chief Infantino to revisit Balogun red card, not overturn it

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States President Donald Trump said Monday that he personally reached out to FIFA president Gianni Infantino about what he called a "horrible" call to send off star American striker Folarin Balogun, though he insisted he never told football's world body to reverse the decision.

"I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," Trump told reporters at the White House. "All I did was ask for a review, I didn't say you have to do this."

"That wasn't even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other," Trump said.

The Republican leader also criticised Brazilian match official Raphael Claus, who issued the card, calling him "a little bit suspect if you check his past."

Balogun was facing a ban from Monday's last-16 knockout fixture against Belgium after he was shown a straight red following a video review for stepping on a Bosnian defender's foot during a round-of-32 tie the US won 2-0.

FIFA regulations mean a straight red automatically carries a one-match suspension that a national team cannot appeal.

However, world football's governing body said Sunday that the punishment would be suspended for a year following Trump's direct intervention.

"We're going to have a full team, and Belgium is going to have a full team, and you know what? If they beat us, then they can be really proud," the US president said Monday.

"The other way, if they beat us… I say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020," Trump said, referring to his false claims of widespread fraud in the vote he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.