Folarin Balogun says FIFA red‑card reversal added pressure on US team

U.S. striker Folarin Balogun was sent off in the round‑of‑32 win over Bosnia‑Herzegovina and faced an automatic one‑match suspension. On the eve of the last‑16 match against Belgium, FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the ban after President Donald Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Balogun told CBS Mornings that the decision “created a lot of outside noise” and that he could “see the nerves in my teammates,” adding that the controversy made preparation for the Belgium game difficult. The United States lost 4‑1 and Balogun’s impact was limited.

FIFA maintains the reversal was independent of political pressure. However, the human‑rights group FairSquare has filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee, accusing Infantino of breaching the IOC’s political‑neutrality rules by intervening on Trump’s request. The complaint has been echoed by 72 European Parliament members and other officials calling for an ethics‑committee review of Infantino’s conduct.

Trump publicly acknowledged his call to Infantino, saying he “thought the decision was brilliant,” while Infantino insisted FIFA’s judicial bodies acted autonomously.