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USMNT forward Folarin Balogun has revealed that he knew the decision to suspend his World Cup red card punishment would spark controversy.

The dismissal came during his team’s Round of 32 match against Bosnia, with the striker still insisting that the decision was incorrect.

The controversy surrounding the red card has largely centered on U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he intervened to have the suspension lifted. His claim has since prompted a complaint from human rights group FairSquare, which alleges that FIFA may have breached its rules on political neutrality.

Folarin Balogun Saw Controversy Coming After Trump’s Claim

Speaking with “CBS Mornings” recently, Folarin Balogun shared his feelings about seeing his Round of 32 red card suspension lifted after Trump allegedly called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to intervene.

He told host Gayle King that his initial reaction was happiness at being back in the team. However, that changed when he began reflecting on Trump’s claim and its possible implications.

“When I kind of started to reflect, I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy,” the soccer star said. “And I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves, because it’s something that is so unique.”

Donald Trump Admitted Calling FIFA Over Balogun’s Red Card

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Balogun received the red card during the match against Bosnia, but his one-match suspension was suspended for one year, allowing him to feature in the Round of 16 clash against Belgium.

Trump was later questioned about the decision during an interview at the White House, where he launched into a rant that began with criticism of the refereeing decision.

“I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports and who was a good athlete. I understand sports really well. And that wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction,” Trump said, adding that the on-field incident was merely “two guys running with speed who happened to crash into each other.”

He then admitted that he had called Infantino and shared details of their conversation.

“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘you have to do this.’ This man is a smart, tough man, Gianni Infantino,” Trump continued.

FIFA Former President Sepp Blatter Slammed Trump’s Intervention

The suspension of Balogun’s red card following Trump’s alleged intervention sparked criticism from sporting bodies, fans, and respected officials.

Sepp Blatter, the predecessor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, was among those who weighed in, delivering a scathing assessment on his X account.

“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls,” Blatter wrote on July 6. “They are overturned by rules, evidence, and independent bodies. If a U.S. 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,” he further remarked.

UEFA Labeled FIFA’s Folarin Balogun Decision ‘Unjustifiable’

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UEFA, one of FIFA’s six continental confederations, also released a statement online calling the decision “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”

“Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case, not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option,” UEFA remarked.

The organization also argued that the decision put the integrity of the competition at risk, as similar cases would now be required to receive equal treatment.

“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake, and the credibility of a competition is undermined,” the statement read.

Folarin Balogun Maintains His Red Card Was Undeserved

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Despite the controversy caused by the decision to suspend his punishment, Balogun remains adamant that he was wrongly penalized.

“I was in shock. It wasn’t even a tackle,” the Arsenal academy product said, referencing his challenge on Bosnia player Tarik Muharemovic. “I was totally in shock; I think you could see my reaction, but I just had to accept the decision and just try to be there for my team.”

“When something’s not intentional, it should never be a red card, so it was just an unfortunate situation, and I think it put a lot more pressure on us than we needed,” he added.

For now, scrutiny over the red card continues, as human rights group FairSquare recently submitted a complaint to the International Olympic Committee accusing Infantino of repeatedly breaching the governing body’s rules on political neutrality.

The Folarin Balogun Breaks Silence On Trump Red Card Row: ‘I Was In Shock’ first appeared on The Blast