𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽'𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗻'𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹

By NigerDelta Voice,

𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚, 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚.

Fresh controversy has emerged at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following reports that U.S. President personally intervened in the case involving United States striker Folarin Balogun, whose World Cup suspension was dramatically overturned by FIFA.

According to a report by The Guardian, Trump made three phone calls to FIFA officials beginning shortly after Balogun was sent off during the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.

Balogun had received a straight red card following a VAR review for a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemović. FIFA subsequently confirmed that the striker would serve an automatic one-match suspension, ruling him out of the USA's Round of 16 clash against Belgium.

However, in an unexpected reversal announced on Sunday, FIFA invoked Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code to suspend the implementation of the ban, making Balogun immediately eligible to face Belgium.

Shortly after the decision, Trump publicly welcomed the outcome on his Truth Social platform, writing: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"

The Guardian, citing unnamed sources, reported that Trump's repeated contacts with FIFA were aimed at persuading the governing body to reconsider the suspension. The report also claimed that the White House World Cup Taskforce, chaired by Andrew Giuliani, explored a legal argument challenging the use of slow-motion VAR replays in disciplinary decisions.

Neither the White House nor FIFA has officially confirmed the reported phone calls or the alleged legal intervention. FIFA also declined to comment on the claims.

The decision has triggered criticism from Belgium, whose football federation accused FIFA of contradicting its own competition regulations. Belgian officials say they are reviewing possible legal action, arguing that the late reversal undermines sporting fairness ahead of their knockout encounter with the United States.

The controversy has intensified scrutiny of FIFA's disciplinary procedures and raised questions over whether political influence played any role in one of the tournament's most contentious decisions.