Boomer Esiason Calls Trump's FIFA Push for 1-Game Balogun Reprieve Corruption

1 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 9

Boomer Esiason said Donald Trump’s intervention in FIFA’s decision to let Folarin Balogun play against Belgium was “the corruption” that damages trust in sport and politics.
Sunday’s ruling suspended Balogun’s automatic 1-game ban from a red card in the previous match after Trump said he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to raise the case.
Belgium protested the move before Monday’s round-of-16 match, warning that if Balogun appeared in the lineup, “all further actions” remained possible; coach Rudi Garcia likened the episode to April Fools’ Day.
The reprieve gave the United States a short-term boost on the field, but the report says the episode has fueled backlash at home and abroad and hurt the team’s broader reputation.