US Team’s Folarin Balogun Free to Play After Trump Lobbies FIFA to Remove Ban
Trump reportedly called FIFA to overturn Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban, clearing the U.S. striker for the next World Cup match.
- President Donald Trump intervened with FIFA to overturn Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension, allowing the star striker to return for Team USA's critical Round of 16 match against The Belgians.
- Balogun's red card from a previous match had triggered an automatic one-game suspension, which would have sidelined him during a crucial tournament stage. Trump's lobbying ensured his eligibility.
- Katy Tur argued on Tuesday that Trump's intervention had thoroughly tarnished the campaign, suggesting it "made us look like cheaters" and "ruined the vibes" among the squad.
- Team USA suffered a 4-1 loss to The Belgians in the Round of 16, with Tur noting that "on the field, the Americans were hesitant" under the weight of controversy.
- Following the defeat, Americans claimed on social media that Trump had "cursed" the team, while Folarin Balogun appeared visibly burdened as he exited the World Cup.
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Washington supported the president's call to FIFA for the expulsion of the American striker.It did so through statements by Andrew Giuliani, director of the White House working group for the World Cup, and said that the visa process for Argentine fans was accelerated.
The lifting of the red barrier against U.S. strikers Balogun after Trump's call to FIFA President Infantino has caused enormous damage. Is integrity broken with it? What must happen now?
The remembered goalkeeper Oliver Kahn shot at the world's governing body of football and ironiced with the controversial pardon of the American striker."I would like to have Ballack's 2002 yellow removed," he said.
Ex-insider flags disturbing pattern of behavior behind Trump's FIFA fiasco
Former Trump official and now vocal critic Miles Taylor warned Tuesday that President Donald Trump's intrusion into FIFA revealed a troubling trend inside the White House.In an analysis piece for The i Paper, Taylor described how Trump's past behavior has demonstrated how the president always tries to get his way — even when it comes to the World Cup."None of this surprised me, because I saw how Trump dealt with 'referees' when I worked for him …
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