麻豆社

Donald Trump has revealed that he personally called Gianni Infantino, the head of Fifa, to ask him to review the red card given to United States' star player Folarin Balogun. The striker had been given a one-match ban after a hard tackle against Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, but the punishment was suspended in time for the US to play their final 16 match against Belgium yesterday.

The decision has been widely condemned across the football world, with European footballing organisation UEFA, calling it, "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable", and former Fifa president Sepp Blatter writing on X, 鈥淩edcards are not overturned by political phone calls鈥� Football must never become a playground for political power.鈥滻nfantino has insisted the decision was made independently by Fifa鈥檚 鈥渋ndependent judicial bodies鈥�.

On today鈥檚 show, Tristan is joined by 麻豆社 football issues correspondent Dale Johnson and New Yorker staff writer Sam Knight, to explain the scandal, and how Infantino鈥檚 governance of Fifa has brought football and politics closer together.

Producers: Hannah Moore and Xandra Ellin

Mix: Travis Evans

Video journalist: Matt Pintus

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Folarin Balogun of the U.S. looks dejected as he applauds fans after the match following their elimination from the World Cup, July 6, 2026. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Blake Dahlin