President Donald Trump confirms he asked FIFA to review Balogun red card - ESPN

President Donald Trump said Monday he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the red card given to United States men's national team striker Folarin Balogun in the team's match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 at the World Cup, calling it a «horrible» call.

FIFA on Sunday suspended Balogun's red card, making him available to face Belgium in the round-of-16 match later on Monday and deferring his ban.

On Monday FIFA reiterated that decision again, ruling a request from the Belgium football federation (RBFA) for an explanation of Folarin Balogun's suspended red card as «inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.»

Balogun scored the opening goal for the U.S. in the 45th minute of its 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday. But he was then sent off in the 64th minute for what was deemed a bad challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic.

«All I did was ask for a review. I didn't say, you have to do this,» Trump said at a White House media briefing Monday. «This man is a smart, tough man, Gianni Infantino. He's a smart, tough man, and his stock has gone through the roof because the job he has done has been great. I feel like we have to have all the best players on the field.»

While Trump on Monday said that he did not demand an outcome from Infantino, Infantino himself issued a statement Monday admitting that he spoke with President Trump but insisting that «FIFA's judicial bodies are independent» and that Infantino had no influence in the decision regarding Balogun.

Infantino saidin a statement: «FIFA's judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases