Sepp Blatter slams Trump’s reported call after FIFA lifts Balogun red card

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has called out FIFA’s decision to lift a red-card suspension on behalf of star U.S. forward Folarin Balogun.

The decision allows Balogun to play in a World Cup match against Belgium on Monday and prompted praise from President Donald Trump and outrage from Belgian soccer officials. It came after Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino after Wednesday’s game between the U.S. and Bosnia-Herzegovina—in which Balogun was sent off—asking FIFA to review the red card, The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the call who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Blatter responded to Trump’s reported intervention in a post on X early Monday, writing: “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies.

“If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Football must never become a playground for political power.”

Blatter was president of the world’s governing body for soccer from 1998 until 2015. He resigned amid an investigation into corruption.

Earlier this year, he backed a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States because of the conduct of Trump and his administration at home and abroad.

Newsweek has contacted Blatter for further comment via an email to the Sepp Blatter Foundation.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Tony Phillips

This is a developing story. More to follow.