White House Defends Trump Lobbying Fifa Over Balogun Red Card Ban

Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House's World Cup taskforce, has defended Donald Trump's efforts to pressure Fifa into lifting Folarin Balogun's suspension ahead of the USA's match against Belgium. Trump questioned the conduct of Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who sent Balogun off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, referencing a 2024 Brazilian senate investigation that did not accuse Claus of wrongdoing. A sitting US president publicly lobbying Fifa over a refereeing decision — with the USA hosting the World Cup — raises serious questions about political interference in the tournament's governance.