During a Tuesday interview with CBS, Folarin Balogun shared that President Donald Trump’s involvement in overturning his red card created unnecessary stress for the US national team. Balogun received the initial dismissal for stepping on a Bosnia-Herzegovina player during a 2-0 group victory, a decision he firmly believes was accidental and unjust.
FIFA announced the suspension of the penalty shortly before the round-of-16 match against Belgium, allowing Balogun to compete. This reversal followed a direct conversation between Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Despite his return to the lineup, the US suffered a 4-1 defeat, and Balogun struggled to influence the outcome.
The 25-year-old noted that while he was initially pleased to be reinstated, he soon realized the decision would spark significant public outcry. He observed visible anxiety among his colleagues as the match approached, noting that the external commotion made it challenging to maintain focus.
