World Cup Fans Rebuke FIFA Red Card Reversal for Balogun After Trump Call Before U.S.-Belgium Match
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 6
World Cup Fans Rebuke FIFA Red Card Reversal for Balogun After Trump Call Before U.S.-Belgium Match
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 6
Summary
Seattle fans from both camps said FIFA mishandled Folarin Balogun’s reinstatement, even as many agreed the original red card should not have stood.
Trump’s call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino sharpened the backlash, with supporters saying political pressure tainted a decision that should have followed clear tournament rules.
Belgian fans said they wanted to face the strongest U.S. side but objected to an ad hoc suspension rollback after FIFA had made a red card an automatic one-game ban.
U.S. supporters were more split: some welcomed Balogun’s return for Monday night’s match, while others warned any American win could carry an asterisk.
The reaction turned a refereeing dispute into a broader credibility test for FIFA, with fans focusing less on the foul itself than on whether rules apply equally at a home World Cup.