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Prairie Gates

(8,834 posts) Sun Jul 5, 2026, 03:50 PM Jul 5

Trump Asked FIFA to Review Balogun's Suspension. He Is Now Eligible to Play.

Source: The New York Times

President Trump called Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, on Wednesday and asked him to review the suspension of the United States’ top goal scorer, Folarin Balogun, after he was given a red card in the team’s match that night against Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to three people familiar with the conversation.

On Sunday, FIFA announced that Mr. Balogun would be eligible to play Monday against Belgium after his red card ban was suspended.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/us/trump-fifa-balogun-world-cup.html

The NEW info here is that Trump intervened.

Absolutely beyond belief.

23 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Trump Asked FIFA to Review Balogun's Suspension. He Is Now Eligible to Play. (Original Post) Prairie Gates Jul 5 OP

100% predictable the world's worst pathological narcissist would feel a need to throw his influence around AZJonnie Jul 5 #1

I didn't know that July 4th was April 1st in the USA slingsam Jul 5 #11

If the U.S. wins the World Cup, let there be permanently placed an asterisk no_hypocrisy Jul 5 #2

Oh, the US is going to lose, probably tomorrow Prairie Gates Jul 5 #3

I hear what you're saying, but the Red Flag was a total BS call anyway Polybius Jul 5 #15

The Red Flag? Prairie Gates Jul 5 #16

Red card, sorry Polybius Jul 6 #20

And yet so confident in your judgments about it Prairie Gates Jul 6 #21

Oh please Polybius Jul 6 #23

I suspect Infantino wanted the call kept secret, knowing it would be an international sports scandal if everyone sop Jul 6 #19

This is no surprise AT ALL. FIFA is one of the most corrupt sporting org's in the world if not the most Cheezoholic Jul 5 #4

This was my first suspicion kurtyboy Jul 5 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author Ponietz Jul 5 #6

That's the right call regardless of Piss intervening. BlueTsunami2018 Jul 5 #7

Unusual but not unique sarisataka Jul 5 #8

What's weird is that POTUS was involved in this! LeftInTX Jul 5 #13

They have been kissing his ass lately sarisataka Jul 5 #14

Good to know the President finally tackled the nation's most pressing issue: Adeptus2272 Jul 5 #9

Balogun should sit it out. BidenRocks Jul 5 #10

He's not an idiot, he won't hurt the team for pride Polybius Jul 5 #12

There goes another $1B of our tax money, half to FIFA. The rest to Cheeto Pedo. Wonder Why Jul 5 #17

"Cheeto Pedo" Skittles Jul 5 #18

A little "ASS" kissing ? republianmushroom Jul 6 #22

AZJonnie

(4,324 posts)

1. 100% predictable the world's worst pathological narcissist would feel a need to throw his influence around

Reply to Prairie Gates (Original post)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 04:11 PM

Jul 5

and corrupt the entire proceeding. Because "Corrupt" is the dude's middle name. And in so doing, no doubt piss off the entire WORLD in the process.

slingsam

(477 posts)

11. I didn't know that July 4th was April 1st in the USA

Reply to AZJonnie (Reply #1)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 06:23 PM

Jul 5

Said the Belgian coach!!

no_hypocrisy

(55,954 posts)

2. If the U.S. wins the World Cup, let there be permanently placed an asterisk

Reply to Prairie Gates (Original post)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 04:13 PM

Jul 5

next to it. This was outright interference with the series.

Prairie Gates

(8,834 posts)

3. Oh, the US is going to lose, probably tomorrow

Reply to no_hypocrisy (Reply #2)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 04:15 PM

Jul 5

The only difference is that now the whole world will be cheering when they do.

Alexi Lalas, with his usual clownish bluster, was welcoming the world's contempt. Well, you got it now, buddy.

Polybius

(22,417 posts)

15. I hear what you're saying, but the Red Flag was a total BS call anyway

Reply to no_hypocrisy (Reply #2)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 07:46 PM

Jul 5

I'm glad it was reversed, I just wish Trump had nothing to do with it.

Prairie Gates

(8,834 posts)

16. The Red Flag?

Reply to Polybius (Reply #15)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 08:04 PM

Jul 5

Good Lord.

Polybius

(22,417 posts)

20. Red card, sorry

Reply to Prairie Gates (Reply #16)

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 10:28 AM

Jul 6

American here, soccer isn't our first language.

Prairie Gates

(8,834 posts)

21. And yet so confident in your judgments about it

Reply to Polybius (Reply #20)

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 11:26 AM

Jul 6

I suppose that's also very American.

Polybius

(22,417 posts)

23. Oh please

Reply to Prairie Gates (Reply #21)

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 07:36 PM

Jul 6

I saw the reply, I saw the commentary. I messed up one word and you're getting testy.

sop

(20,228 posts)

19. I suspect Infantino wanted the call kept secret, knowing it would be an international sports scandal if everyone

Reply to Polybius (Reply #15)

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 07:23 AM

Jul 6

found out, but Trump wanted the whole world to know just what a powerful and influential man he is.

Cheezoholic

(4,263 posts)

4. This is no surprise AT ALL. FIFA is one of the most corrupt sporting org's in the world if not the most

Reply to Prairie Gates (Original post)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 04:16 PM

Jul 5

It was obvious with Ronaldo at the beginning of this and it's obvious here. This is not the first time corruption laid its ugly head in the lap of FIFA. Far from it. It lives there. It's about billions. Always is.

kurtyboy

(1,033 posts)

5. This was my first suspicion

Reply to Prairie Gates (Original post)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 04:19 PM

Jul 5

FIFA may be the only thing as corrupt as Trump....

Edited to add: Isn't it ironic that Trump did this for a birthright citizen?

Response to Prairie Gates (Original post)

Ponietz This message was self-deleted by its author.

BlueTsunami2018

(5,171 posts)

7. That's the right call regardless of Piss intervening.

Reply to Prairie Gates (Original post)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 04:47 PM

Jul 5

Never should have been a red card on that play in the first place.

sarisataka

(23,368 posts)

8. Unusual but not unique

Reply to Prairie Gates (Original post)

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 04:53 PM

Jul 5

Ronaldo came into the World Cup carrying a two-match suspension that would have kept him out of Portugal's first group stage games. He was given the same probation, if the player receives a red card in the next year the suspensions are reinstated in addition to and punishment for that red card

The US team also had a strong case in that Messi committed a similar and more intentional foul that was not penalized in the match or afterward. Ignoring Messi, and giving Ronaldo a probation, while punishing Balogun would be blatant favoritism to the big-name players.