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Trump Intervenes with FIFA to Reverse Red Card for US Player

The Trump Report · Trump's FIFA intervention was 'utterly corrupt' | David Cay Johnston · July 7, 2026
Trump Intervenes with FIFA to Reverse Red Card for US Player
The Trump Report
The Trump Report
Trump's FIFA intervention was 'utterly corrupt' | David Cay Johnston
"Donald thinks he's all powerful. So here he calls up an official at this corrupt organization FIFA that gave him the FIFA peace prize and says, 'Hey, I want you to remove the red card on this player and they do it. They do it. They bow down to him.' And so to Donald, this is just further proof that in fact he alone is qualified to be president and he is the state."
Former investigative journalist discusses Trump's reported phone call to FIFA president Johnny Infantino to reverse US striker Faren Balagan's red card suspension, which FIFA granted in an unprecedented move. Belgium's football association appealed the decision, calling it astonishing, while a former FIFA president warned football should not become a playground for political power. The commentator argues this demonstrates Trump's belief in his own absolute power and fits a pattern of corruption involving pardons for major drug traffickers and January 6th attackers.
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The Trump Report
The Trump Report

Trump's FIFA intervention was 'utterly corrupt' | David Cay Johnston

August 3, 2026 · 8m · 1 Egleze moments
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