JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed that he had spoken to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the red card penalty imposed on the US football star, Folarin Balogun.
In the Oval Office of the White House, Trump said he watched the July 1 match and considered the referee's decision "very unfair," as well as assessing the collision between Balogun and the opponent "was not a foul."
"So yes, I am asking for a review by FIFA," Trump said, quoted by ABC News, Monday, July 6.
A US official previously told ABC News, President Trump had indeed spoken to Infantino, and the two discussed the reasons behind the red card to Balogun.
The official said the US government had submitted additional evidence used in the appeal process.
Balogun is now available to play in the World Cup round of 16 match that brings together the US national team (USMNT) with Belgium on Tuesday morning WIB, after FIFA suspended a one-match ban for the controversial red card previously received by the striker.
On Sunday, July 5, FIFA stated that "the implementation of the ban was suspended for a probationary period of one year."
According to sources quoted by ABC News, the phone conversation between Trump and Infantino took place last week.
Balogun received a red card in the second half of the US' match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, after his foot collided with the leg of an opponent.
As a result of the incident, Balogun was sent off from the match and was automatically given a one-match ban.
At that time, FIFA conveyed to ABC News, the referee's decision was final and could not be canceled or appealed.
But in its latest decision, FIFA explained that if Balogun "commits another offence of a similar nature and severity during the probationary period, the suspension of the sentence will be lifted and the sanction will be imposed, without prejudice to the possibility of additional sanctions for the new offence."
This decision is based on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has the authority to decide to suspend the implementation of the disciplinary sanction previously imposed.
Due to this decision, Belgium lodged a protest.
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