Report: Trump mediates with the President of "FIFA"

The "New York Times" revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, asking him to review the decision to suspend U.S. national team striker Folarin Balogun, before FIFA announced the suspension of the penalty, a move that sparked widespread controversy.

Balogun had received a direct red card during the United States' victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-0) in the Round of 32, after he "accidentally" stepped on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. Under FIFA regulations, the player would automatically miss his country's match against Belgium in the Round of 16.

According to the American newspaper, citing three informed sources, Trump contacted Infantino on Wednesday, requesting a review of the suspension decision, before FIFA decided on Sunday to suspend the penalty for a year, allowing the player to participate in the match against Belgium. The U.S. president quickly praised the decision on social media, considering that FIFA corrected a "great injustice."

In contrast, the decision sparked discontent from the Belgian side; the Belgian Football Association announced that it was "stunned" by FIFA's move, while the national team's coach, Frenchman Rudi Garcia, said he initially thought the news was "an April Fool's joke."