Report: Donald Trump called Gianni Infantino before Balogun ban was lifted

sportsJul 6, 202640352

The New York Times, Reuters and the Associated Press reported that President Donald Trump phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to press for review of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension; FIFA subsequently rescinded the red card ruling, clearing Balogun to play against Belgium in Seattle. The Belgian Football Association said it was "astonished" and said it was investigating options after the reversal. Reporting and social posts tie the phone call to Infantino’s close relationship with Trump; CNBC documented that Infantino gave Trump 10 tickets worth $15,000 to last July’s Club World Cup final and that Infantino has repeatedly appeared alongside Trump, including presenting Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. Fifty members of the European Parliament urged FIFA to address an ethics complaint over the Peace Prize and to demonstrate political neutrality and transparency. FIFA and the White House did not respond to requests for comment, and outlets note there is no public documentary evidence linking the ticket gift to the disciplinary decision.

The Liberal BoJack

@thelibbojack.bsky.social

FIFA's own rules dictate that if a government tries to intervene in a disciplinary matter - that team is disqualified. Not happening to the USA though, despite trump making that phone call. Wonder why. 🤔 Fuck Trump. Fuck Infantino. Post anything here: interactink.vercel.app

792h ago

Sharon 🇺🇸💙✡️2

I mean, just how bad would it look, to know you gave the 1st annual FIFA peace prize to that fuckwad, then disqualified his country’s team bc he broke your own rule? I wonder when, or if, the US can gain respect on the world stage, ever again.

Jason Kirk1

Infantino folded easier than a deck chair.

Paul van der Meer

@paulvandermeer.bsky.social

Tr*mp called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Team USA’s Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension after his red card. Later, FIFA reversed the suspension (NYT).

215h ago

mjk4mj.bsky.social7

Trump and Infantino doing a Nazi salute below. www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-...

Mark Romoser4

Huh? He interceded on behalf of one of those birthright citizens he doesn't want?

OregonPaws(Patricia)1

Unethical criminals will be criminals, every World Cup team should step aside and stop the matches so this illegal action by tRUMP and Infantino goes on record as destroying the 2026 World Cup. FIFA is supporting a criminal.

mjk4mj.bsky.social1

Does Infantino love Trump because Trump raped underage girls? Trump drew the chest of an underage girl (Trump is giving convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell VIP treatment and will pardon her). bsky.app/profile/zack...

FairSquare

@fairsq.bsky.social

FIFA broke its rules to favour the US team. The @nytimes.com reports this happened after Trump called Infantino and pressed him on the issue. We will be submitting an updated complaint to FIFA's ethics committee on this matter. You can add your name to that complaint here 👇 rebootfifa.com/sign/

174h ago

HuffPost

@huffpost.com

The irony alarm sounded over the president's call to FIFA's Peace Prize-awarding boss, Gianni Infantino.

163h ago

Resign, Carney. ⚜️🤌🏻1

He should pick a lane: www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...

Snigdha

@snig.bsky.social

Donald Trump lobbied Fifa to lift the US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card one match ban just before Sunday’s announcement that he would be available to play against Belgium in Seattle on Monday night. Rules mean nothing to either golf cheat Donald Trump or Fifa's Gianni Infantino.

235h ago

Snigdha12

The BBC report Fifa have not given any reasons or explanation for the decision to suspend Balogun's red card. www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

Paul Tyreman 〓〓4

King Charles III should be on the phone now. I'm sorry, I'll read that again. Gianni Infantino should be out of a job now.

The National

@scotnational.bsky.social

The Belgian Football Association has said it is 'astonished' and 'investigating all potential options' after it emerged Donald Trump called Fifa president Gianni Infantino to ask for US striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban to be reviewed

123h ago

FMRad102

It's almost like the Belgian FA didn't know FIFA was massively corrupt..... When everyone else did.

Ian Mackay1

Il Duce paid off referees to 'win' the World Cup in 1934. II Douche trying to pull a similar trick in 2026.

💚🌏Myles🌏💚

@rainbowregionmyles.bsky.social

#FIFA is so ridiculously corrupt, this #WorldCup is being ruined by Trump & Infantino. Balogun should not be playing against Belgium!

Balogun being shown a red card at the World Cup and he is holding a card back at the referees face, that has a picture of Donald Trump on it.

102h ago

Jack Cousteau ⚓️

@angrywaterman.bsky.social

ferw.eu/crisis-at-th... revelations of dirty collusion between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump

136h ago

American Twang2

Trump picked up the phone, called Infantino, and got an American player out of a red card. Now the player won’t miss the next match. They are literally helping the U.S. cheat in the World Cup ⚽️

Sean (86 everything trump)1

Hope the US-Belgium match has zero american fans

Captain of Stardust1

Time to get all the creeps in prison.

Johnny MAYBE1

Why the grasping zombie hands? I mean on the peace prize.

Pam Nash

@pamnashes.bsky.social

The most recommended comment on the NYT story about the Trump/Infantino red card corruption.

Christopher Weakley
Los Angeles • 12 hours ago
Turns out it's easier to fix the World Cup than the reflecting pool.
Replies 11
Recommended 3.8k

112h ago

Daily Herald #FBPE #NAFO 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇬🇱

@dailyherald.bsky.social

It's dirty, it's grubby, and it's everything we've come to expect from this sordid relationship between Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino... www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/fif...

121h ago

mimij9.bsky.social

@mimij9.bsky.social

BREAKING: The White House called FIFA’s Gianni Infantino to review Team USA’s Folarin Balogun’s red card, AP source says. Associated Press

96h ago

Stuart Davidson 🇬🇱9

Red is red, unless you're a craven ass-kisser like infantino. Corrupt & racist tournament.

Mikey🚚3

If and when Trump goes, people like Gianni, need to go as well.

Jonty1

Wonder if Infantino will be pushed out after the World Cup. I hope so.

Ian Banks

@atoll.ltd

That Donald Trump successfully lobbied ludicrously weak FIFA to lift US striker Folarin Balogun’s 1-game ban for his red card so he can play last-16 clash Vs Belgium tonight reveals that Gianni Infantino is as much a disgraceful President as Sepp Blatter ever was. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

52h ago

BRICS News 📄

@bricsinfo.bsky.social

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 President Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review suspension of top US team World Cup goal scorer Folarin Balogun, NYT reports. His red card has since been reversed, allowing him to play against Belgium.

55h ago

Andy Scollick

@andyscollick.bsky.social

Infantino + Trump = Corruption We will, of course, all be supporting the Red Devils against the United States of Trump. #FIFA #WorldCup #Belgium

73h ago

silviallopis.bsky.social

@silviallopis.bsky.social

Escandalazo en el Mundial. La FIFA retira la tarjeta roja al goleador estadounidense Balogun tras una llamada de Trump a Infantino elpais.com/deportes/mun...

43h ago

3 sources

sports.yahoo.comTrump Personally Called FIFA Boss Gianni Infantino to Appeal on Behalf of US Soccer Star: Report independent.co.ukDonald Trump asked Gianni Infantino for USA’s World Cup red card to be revoked andymuirhead.comDonald Trump and Gianni Infantino Have Corrupted the Beautiful Game

Harry Kane's voice goes hoarse in postgame interviewsports Norway stuns Brazil, Haaland brace sends Norway into World Cup quarterssports Jordan Henderson stretchered off, also booked during celebrationssports England beat Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca, advance to World Cup quarterssports

Report: Donald Trump called Gianni Infantino before Balogun ban was lifted

Related