Source: CBS News
“FIFA is being criticized over its decision to lift the red card suspension for lead U.S. Men’s National Team scorer Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play against Belgium on Monday. Sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that Balogun’s reinstatement came after President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday and spoke about the suspension, which would have kept the 25-year-old striker from playing in the round of 16 World Cup match. The Union of European Football Associations, Europe’s soccer governing body, said FIFA ‘crossed a red line,’ and expressed its ‘disbelief’ at a decision it called ‘unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.’ … The Royal Belgian Football Association, whose national team will face the U.S. Monday, said it was ‘astonished’ by the decision, and added it contradicts FIFA’s own rules.” (07/06/26)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fifa-infantino-trump-red-card-folarin-balogun-criticism/