A rumor has circulated on social media suggesting White House involvement in the reversal of a red card issued to US soccer player Folarin Balogun. This claim emerged after former President Donald Trump publicly praised FIFA for overturning the ban, describing it as the correction of a “great injustice.”
The viral claim asserts that the White House directly contacted FIFA to overturn Balogun’s red card. This surfaced following Trump’s statement on Truth Social, where he thanked FIFA for “doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” The claim has drawn significant criticism towards the Trump administration and FIFA, with some pointing to a seldom-used bylaw that was reportedly invoked to overturn the card.
However, this claim could not be independently verified. Journalist Ben Jacobs reported on X that while White House intervention was alleged, FIFA sources maintained that any such influence could not have impacted the decision due to the independent nature of the disciplinary panel and the provisions of Article 27. These sources reiterated that White House influence could not have swayed the outcome. Currently, there is no credible evidence to support the assertion of White House involvement.
Balogun received a red card during the USMNT’s Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a game the US won 2-0. The striker, who scored the initial goal, was sent off in the 64th minute after a challenge. A VAR review upheld the decision, leaving the US team with ten players. Reports indicated that both the White House and President Trump were displeased with the referee’s call.
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