Can Donald Trump Intervene to Overturn Controversial Folarin Balogun Red Card?
Team USA soccer fans are irate over Folarin Balogun's controversial red card in the United States' win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1 in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup. And with no formal appeals process for the red card, some are hoping to take the issue all the way to the top.
As it stands, Balogun, 24, is ineligible to play in Team USA's Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday, July 6. Fans have flooded social media to urge President Donald Trump to intervene.
"Trump needs to do one of the greatest trade deals in history to get [FIFA president Gianni] Infantino to rescind Balogun's red card," one fan wrote via X.
Another added, "Easy win for Trump right now to come out and threaten FIFA over this red card suspension."
And it wasn't just fans. Outkick founder Clay Travisurged Trump, 80, to use his "presidential pardon powers" to allow Balogun to play against Belgium.
"I've spent too much time as a college football fan - where judges decide everything now - but I'm already thinking how the courts would handle this," he wrote via X. "Given US is expending tons of taxpayer dollars does US have a property interest in a top athlete playing? Does Balogun? Can he appeal FIFA's ruling and get a [Brendon] Sorsby like judge ruling? Where is venue? Does FIFA appeal rocket to circuits and then Supreme Court?"
Of course, Trump can't just unilaterally overturn a red card; the President doesn't have any jurisdiction over how FIFA applies its rules. But he can apply pressure to Infantino, with whom he has a relationship.
After Trump openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, Infantano, 56, presented him with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, an award of his own creation. CNBC also reported on Wednesday that the FIFA leader gave Trump $15,000 in tickets to last year's FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
"Not to get political but whats the point of winning a fifa peace prize if u cant throw ur weight around on a bulls*** suspension?" Barstool Sports' PFT Commenter asked via X.
Infantino has also been seen wearing a hat with the numbers 45-47 on it, a reference to Trump being elected the 45th and 47th president. He announced in June that Trump will help present the championship trophy to the winner of the World Cup at the conclusion of the tournament.
"We will be together with the president [Trump] enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together," Infantino said in an appearance on Fox & Friends. "We are together all the time."
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This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 10:37 AM.