President Donald Trump confirmed he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino about the red card shown to US player Folarin Balogun, and called the referee 'somewhat suspicious,' according to ynet. The comment follows earlier reports of Trump's intervention.
At 17:42 Jerusalem, President Donald Trump confirmed he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the red card shown to US player Folarin Balogun, and called the referee 'somewhat suspicious' — a shift from his earlier 'terrible' assessment. The confirmation follows The Zioneer's earlier reporting that Trump had asked FIFA to review the card.
The Zioneer first reported the story at 17:15 Jerusalem, initially with a brief confirmation of a call between Trump and Infantino, then with Trump admitting he did not know what a red card was, and finally with Trump calling the referee 'terrible' and saying he requested a review. At 17:38 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published a bulletin reiterating the 'terrible' referee comment. The reporting evolved from a sparse confirmation to detailed criticism.
As The Zioneer reported on Sunday, Trump personally lobbied Infantino to overturn the red card, an unprecedented intervention that led to the first reversal of a red card since 1962. On Monday at 13:53 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that UEFA issued a harsh statement against the reversal, and the Belgian Football Association also condemned it.
The exact timing of Trump's call and the specific sequence of events leading to the reversal remain unverified. The referee's identity and any response from FIFA regarding the 'somewhat suspicious' comment have not been disclosed.
3 developments
- StrongUEFA issues dramatic statement against FIFA over overturning of US player's red card
- DevelopingEU Sports Commissioner says decisions on sports rules belong to sports bodies, not politicians — after FIFA overturns US red card
- DevelopingFIFA president Infantino tells critics to 'chill' over Somali referee's US entry denial
- DevelopingIran: Revolutionary Guard-affiliated football official reports US interference to FIFA
Source and signal
- Internal intake