Belgians formally challenge Balogun decision
A rush of Belgian politicians, European sporting officials and EU leadership have questioned the White House’s role in the disciplinary judgment.
Trump called but said he only asked for a review not a particular outcome.
He doesn't even know soccer. He said when first saw it looked like players got entangled. Said history of referee involved was suspect(not explained).
Said can penalize game in but to penalize in game not yet played very unfair. Well that is the rule for red card. You have to sit out next game
However, the president rebuffed the idea that his talks with Infantino influenced the decision, even as the FIFA president has cozied up to Trump during his second term — showering him in compliments and creating a new “peace prize” that he awarded Trump ahead of the tournament.
“All I did was ask for a review,” Trump said. “I didn’t say that you have to do this.”
The comments come after a slate of other nations’ soccer federations panned the decision, with the European Commission demanding “fair play and transparent competition” in sports. Belgian officials, whose country will play against the U.S. today, expressed intense consternations and have formally challenged the ruling.
Trump on Monday described his reaction to the initial game call as confused. He characterized the collision between Balogun and Tarik Muharemović as the two players being “sort of entangled” and, upon learning that a red card would bar Balogun from suiting up for the U.S.’s match against Belgium, thought it was “unfair.”
“It is one thing to penalize somebody for the game,” Trump said. “But how do you penalize him for a game that hasn’t been played yet? It’s very unfair, you can’t do that.”
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