FIFA 'crossed a red line' with red card U-turn at World Cup, says UEFA

Donald Trump says he asked FIFA to review US striker's World Cup red card, as UEFA says the U-turn 'crossed a red line'

FIFA president Gianni Infantino (left) acted after a personal appeal from US President Donald Trump. (Getty Images: Emilee Chinn)

Donald Trump has said he personally asked FIFA boss Gianna Infantino to review US striker Folarin Balogun's red card at the World Cup.

It follows a controversial decision by the governing body to suspend the player's sanction.

Europea's footballing body UEFA has said that FIFA's move "crossed a red line" in sport.

Donald Trump says he asked FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to review a US striker's World Cup red card as Europe's football body UEFA says the U-turn "crossed a red line".

The decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card, given during the US's match with Bosnia and Herzegovina, has sent shockwaves through the World Cup and thrust FIFA's disciplinary process into the spotlight.

FIFA's decision, which followed the intervention from the White House, prompted an angry response led by Belgium, who play the US on Tuesday AEST for a place in the quarterfinals.

Speaking in Washington, Mr Trump said it was unfair for FIFA to take out one of the United States' best players but defended his role in the matter.

The US president said the incident that got Balogun the red card was simply a case of two athletes colliding and he raised questions about the fairness of the referee who called the foul.

"I saw the play," Mr Trump said. "That wasn't a foul. That wasn't even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other."

He said FIFA made a "really brilliant decision" to suspend the red card. "I think the referee's call was horrible," he said.

Trump said all he did was ask for a review. "I didn't tell them what to do. I can't tell them what to do," he said.

The decision prompted a sharp statement by UEFA, Europe's footballing body.

Folarin Balogun, who has scored three goals at the World Cup, is free to play for the US against Belgium. (Getty Images: John Dorton)

"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," UEFA said in a statement on Monday, adding that it "crossed a red line".

The high-profile intervention by UEFA echoed criticism from some leading lights of the sport.

"This is our sport, not theirs," said former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

Jurgen Klopp says Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump "know nothing about football". (Getty Images: Liverpool FC/John Powell)

"If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, it is madness; it calls everything into question.

"These two people (Trump and Infantino), who know nothing about football, should have absolutely nothing to do with this."

The head of the German football association said the "integrity of the competition and the credibility of FIFA are at stake."

As criticism spilled over into the political sphere, the European Commissioner For Sport warned against "the weaponisation of sport for political purposes".

Balogun, who has scored three goals for the US in the tournament, was sent off after a VAR review for dragging his cleats down the back of defender Tarik Muharemovic's leg and onto his foot during their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.

The red card carried an automatic one-match ban, ruling Balogun out of Monday's round of 16 tie with Belgium. FIFA instead suspended the ban for a one-year probationary period without rescinding the card itself.

"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice," Trump wrote on Truth Social while the White House celebrated Balogun's reinstatement in the squad with a post on X saying: "USA-USA-USA."

Even former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, who stepped down in 2015 amid corruption allegations, joined the criticism.

"If a US President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Football must never become a playground for political power."