what did trump say to fifa

Trump said he asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension, but said he “didn’t tell him what to do.” He also called the referee’s red card decision “horrible” and said he didn’t think it was a foul.

Quick Scoop

The main point is that Trump publicly said he contacted FIFA about the call, pushing for a review of the suspension rather than ordering a specific outcome. Reports also say FIFA later reinstated Balogun, which made the whole episode especially controversial.

What was said

• He asked for the red card to be reviewed.
• He said he left the decision to FIFA.

• He described the referee’s call as “horrible” and said it “wasn’t a foul”.

Why it matters

The reaction has been so strong because FIFA decisions are normally supposed to stay insulated from political pressure. That’s why the call drew criticism and claims that FIFA may have bent rules to please Trump.

Bottom line

In plain terms: Trump said he asked FIFA to look again at the red card, but insisted he did not dictate the result.