WATCH: Trump praises 'really brilliant decision' on Balogun's red card after he called FIFA's Infantino

By — Collin Binkley, Associated Press Collin Binkley, Associated Press By — Seung Min Kim, Associated Press Seung Min Kim, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-praises-really-brilliant-decision-on-baloguns-red-card-after-he-called-fifas-infantino Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Trump praises 'really brilliant decision' on Balogun's red card after he called FIFA's Infantino Politics Jul 6, 2026 2:38 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday took credit for getting FIFA to review a red card issued against the United States' star forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup but said he did not demand an outcome. Watch the clip in the video player above. "All I did was ask for a review," Trump said when asked about it during an unrelated Oval Office event . "I didn't say, 'You have to do this.'" READ MORE: What to know after FIFA lifts suspension of U.S. star Folarin Balogun Trump confirmed that he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked for a second look at the punishment against Balogun in the United States' 2-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco. But he said FIFA made the final call to lift Balogun's mandatory one-game ban for a foul tackle, allowing him to play in Monday's round of 16 match with Belgium in Seattle. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. FIFA's decision to suspend the one-game ban was celebrated by many in the United States but brought condemnation in the international sports world, where some called it an outrageous intrusion. The Belgian soccer federation is challenging Balogun's eligibility for Monday's match, and the UEFA soccer body in Europe called FIFA's move "incomprehensible and unjustifiable." Trump criticizes the referee's red card call In remarks on Monday, Trump called the referee's decision a "horrible" call. He added that it would have been a stain on the tournament if Balogun, the U.S.' leading scorer at this year's World Cup with three goals, was held out against Belgium and the U.S. lost. He praised FIFA for making what he described as a brilliant decision in suspending the punishment. "I didn't think it was a foul," Trump said. "I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled." The Republican president, who said he understands sports "really well," acknowledged that he did not initially know what a red card is or the consequences it brings. When he learned it would lead to a one-game suspension for Balogun, he said, he decided to step in. He also took issue with the use of video review to issue the red card, arguing that slowed-down reviews can make plays look more aggressive. READ MORE: Infantino says he told Trump the Balogun red card would be decided by independent bodies "Belgium has got a great team," T