President Donald Trump has confirmed he asked Fifa to review United States striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension at the World Cup.
Trump says football’s world governing body “made the right decision” to suspend Balogun’s ban, adding it would have left a “big stain” on the tournament had it been implemented.
Balogun, who is his country’s top scorer at the current tournament, was set to be suspended for his side’s last-16 tie against Belgium in Seattle on Tuesday.
But on Monday night, Fifa suspended the automatic one-game ban for 12 months, freeing the way for the 25-year-old forward to be selected.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said he had asked Fifa to review the decision because he “didn’t think it was a foul”.
Trump confirmed he spoke to Fifa president Gianni Infantino, but said “all” he did was ask for a review and added that he did not tell the Swiss he had to suspended Balogun’s ban.
“I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled,” said Trump
“I think it [the suspension] would have left a big stain. I can’t tell them what to do. I don’t believe they made the decision; I believe it was the commission that made the decision. And it was the right decision.”