US President Donald Trump on Monday said the decision to show a red card to US men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun was wrong and confirmed that he had asked FIFA to review the incident.
Trump reiterated his support for Balogun, saying the challenge did not amount to a foul and that the red card was unwarranted. He, however, clarified that while he asked FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to review of the decision, he did not ask FIFA to overturn it.
“I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul," Trump told reporters at the White House. “All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say you have to do this."
“I’ve never seen anything like it. I saw the play… that wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other… So yes, I asked for a review by FIFA," he added.
“I didn’t know what the hell a red card was. When I found out, I said, ‘You gotta be kidding!" he added.
Balogun, who has scored three goals at the World Cup, had been set to miss the quarter-final in Seattle after receiving a straight red card following a video review for stepping on the foot of a Bosnia and Herzegovina defender during the United States’ 2-0 Round of 32 victory.
Under FIFA rules, a straight red card carries an automatic one-match suspension.
Balogun, who is of Nigerian descent, plays for AS Monaco and is a product of Arsenal’s academy. He was sent off after stepping on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the Round of 32 clash.
Trump questioned the credibility of Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, calling his past “very suspect" as he defended his decision to ask FIFA to review the red card shown to US striker Folarin Balogun during the FIFA World Cup.
“This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. I don’t want say that because I don’t like to create controversy, but very suspect," Trump said while explaining why he sought a FIFA review of the decision.
Claus sent off Balogun in the 64th minute of the United States’ 2-0 Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor following a VAR intervention. The referee ruled that Balogun had committed serious foul play after stepping on the ankle of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic while challenging for the ball.
Source: News18