An official in the US White House asked Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, to review Folarin Balogun’s red card ban, the Associated Press has reported.
According to the report, a person familiar with the development said that a high-ranking US official called Infantino about the matter.
The source, however, did not share who specifically made the call and when.
The revelation comes a few hours after FIFA announced an unprecedented decision to suspend Balogun’s one-match ban for one year.
Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute of the round-of-32 match between the US and Bosnia & Herzegovina for a dangerous foul. He was supposed to miss the team’s last 16 match against Belgium on Tuesday.
However, the FIFA disciplinary committee invoked Article 27 of its code, and Balogun, who has scored three goals, will be available for the match.
In response to the decision, US President Donald Trump thanked FIFA for suspending Balogun’s red card on Truth Social and labelled the sanction as an injustice.
The Belgian FA said it is “astonished” by the FIFA ruling, adding that the decision contravenes the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 competition regulations.
The federation said it is investigating “all potential options” to protect the integrity of the game.
“Furthermore, and irrespective of the above, the decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, as set out in Article 10.5,” the statement read.
“‘If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.’
“The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026.”
