Balogun says Trump FIFA call that lifted red-card ban 'caused a lot of controversy' and unsettled US team

The red card that triggered a diplomatic chain reaction

In the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, US striker Folarin Balogun was sent off after a video review for what was deemed a dangerous but unintentional tackle. The 25-year-old AS Monaco forward was "completely shocked," he later said, but accepted the decision. With the US winning 2-0, the automatic one-match suspension meant he would miss the round of 16 clash with Belgium.

Then came an extraordinary intervention. President Donald Trump, aged 80, called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, 56, and asked for the suspension to be reviewed. The following day, FIFA lifted the ban, allowing Balogun to take the field in Seattle. The move provoked international outrage, with the Italian newspaper Fanpage noting the case even reached the European Parliament.

Balogun: "I knew it would cause a lot of controversy"

Speaking on the CBS program "CBS Mornings" just over a week after the tournament exit, Balogun described his initial reaction. "My first reaction was happiness at being back in the team. But when I started to reflect, I knew it would cause a lot of controversy." He argued the red card was unjust because the foul was not intentional. "If something is not intentional, it should never be a red card. It was just an unfortunate situation," he said.

I was completely shocked. But I had to accept the decision.

A nervous team and an extra burden

But the controversy weighed heavily. Balogun admitted sensing unease among his teammates. "I could almost see a little nervousness in my teammates because it's such a unique situation," he told CBS. He added, "It put much more pressure on us than we needed."

The outside noise was "difficult to shut out," he said. "As the game got closer, I tried to concentrate as best I could, but it was hard. There was a lot of noise from outside and that's hard to ignore." The US team, already under pressure as co-hosts, was unsteady.

I could almost see a little nervousness in my teammates because it's such a unique situation. It put much more pressure on us than we needed.

The Belgium rout and an 'invisible' Balogun

The match against Belgium was a 4-1 defeat. Balogun, allowed to play only because of the presidential phone call, turned in a performance described by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf as "figuratively invisible." The hosts crashed out in the round of 16, ending their home World Cup campaign in disarray.

A controversy that won't fade

The incident has left lasting ripples. The Swiss outlet Blick.ch called it "one of the great and inglorious stories of this World Cup," and the German N-tv noted "the scandal over the lifted suspension." Balogun's admission now adds a player's perspective to a saga that has overshadowed the tournament's sporting side, with the echoes reaching from the US Oval Office to European institutions.

As the game got closer, I tried to concentrate as best I could. But it was incredibly difficult.