None dare call him partisan, but our Soccer-Fan-in-Chief — or is it Futbol-Fan-in-Chief? — Donald Trump has used his infamous phone to get USA National Team striker Folarin Balogun reinstated. Balogun was given an infamous red card in his last game for an inadvertent ankle stomping of a rival player, meaning he would have to miss tomorrow’s game against Belgium.
Trump intervened by calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the penalty. Some days later — meaning this morning — the call paid off as Infantino managed to get the striker’s penalty converted to a yearlong probation. Though red flags are not contestable under FIFA rules, there is something called Article 27, which allows for conversion to what amounts to soccer parole.
Though using Article 27 is rare, it was invoked just this past year for superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. who was set to miss three games because of an elbowing incident and ultimately received a similar probation.
The Belgian football association is unhappy with today’s reversal. protesting that the “decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations.”
Trump, however, is elated, writing on Truth Social: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
Politics aside, Team USA is now at full strength for its win-or-go-home game against the Belgian team on Monday.
