US President Donald Trump unexpectedly became one of the main heroes of the FIFA World Cup. Kursiv LifeStyle explains how FIFA's decision 'by a call from Washington' turned into a loud scandal. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
As The New York Times writes, FIFA suspended the one-match disqualification of US national team striker Folarin Balogun. The decision was explained by an unexpected call from the American leader to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
After Balogun's red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, lawyers of the US Soccer Federation began looking for ways to challenge the punishment, although FIFA regulations do not provide for appeals.
After FIFA's unexpected decision, Trump welcomed it on his social network Truth Social, but did not mention the conversation with Infantino and did not attribute the revision of the punishment to himself.
'Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and correcting a great injustice,' the president wrote.
The decision caused a stormy reaction in the football community. Belgium called it 'shocking' and demanded explanations, while former players and experts spoke of possible political interference in FIFA's work.
'We are shocked by FIFA's decision. It, in our opinion, directly contradicts the World Cup regulations and threatens the principles of fair play,' said the Royal Belgian Football Association.
Meanwhile, the story quickly turned into a meme on social networks. Users joke that now any red card can be canceled with 'one call to Washington.'
The Guardian: FIFA SUSPENDS Balogun's red card after White House appeal. 'Thanks FIFA for doing what was right and a GREAT INJUSTICE!' — Donald Trump on Truth Social.
Trump himself is called the 'most influential sports arbitrator' of the World Cup.
Trump on VAR duty: The replay says goal… but I alone can fix it.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle wrote about the curious situation of a Japanese football fan at the 2026 World Cup. He experienced his team's defeat so dramatically that Brazilians consoled him.