Berliner Tageblatt - Trump confirms he asked FIFA boss for review of Balogun red card

"I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," Trump told reporters at the White House. "All I did was ask for a review, I didn't say you have to do this."

"That wasn't even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other," Trump said.

The Republican president -- who said "I understand sports really well" -- acknowledged that he was initially unaware that the red card meant Balogun was barred from the next game, saying the rule is "very unfair."

Trump also took aim at Raphael Claus, the Brazilian referee who made the call, describing him as "a little bit suspect if you check his past."

Balogun had been set to miss Monday's last-16 knockout clash against Belgium after receiving a straight red card following a video review for stepping on the foot of a Bosnian defender in a round-of-32 clash that the US won 2-0.

- 'Rigged' like election -

Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed by the player's team.

But world football's governing body said Sunday the ban would now be suspended for a year after the personal call from Trump.

"We're going to have a full team, and Belgium is going to have a full team, and you know what? If they beat us, then they can be really proud," the US president said Monday.

"The other way, if they beat us... I say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020," Trump said, referring to his false claims of widespread fraud in the vote he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

The decision to allow Balogun to play has been slammed by Belgian football officials, who released a statement saying they were "astonished" by a move that is in "direct contradiction" with FIFA's own rules.

Top scorer Balogun has been key to the USA's progress in the tournament, scoring three times, and his absence against Belgium would have been a major blow to the team in the upcoming game in Seattle.

The decision to suspend the ban was taken by FIFA's disciplinary committee.

F.Pavlenko--BTB