The United States were eliminated from their own World Cup on Monday night after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, following Donald Trump's boast that he personally intervened with Fifa president Gianni Infantino to overturn a red card for striker Folarin Balogun. The president claimed he made three phone calls to Infantino, leading to the rescinding of the ban via article 27. The world united in mockery, with comparisons to the Belgian resistance of 1914.
Whitehousery on display
Trump's actions, described as "Whitehousery," drew widespread condemnation. "The last time this many people cheered on a Belgian resistance, it was 1914," wrote Guardian columnist Marina Hyde. Trump claimed he was "good at this stuff," but the intervention backfired, inspiring Belgium to victory. Critics noted that Trump's cheating in golf with Lindsey Graham did not prepare him for real sports dynamics.
Infantino under fire
Fifa president Gianni Infantino defended the decision, but faced backlash. Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter criticized the move, stating, "Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls." Uefa issued a statement expressing "disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," saying it crossed a red line. European parliament members called for an ethics investigation into Fifa over the Balogun affair.
Balogun caught in the middle
Balogun, raised in London, never sought Trump's involvement, especially given Trump's past attempts to limit birthright citizenship. "A lot of people rightly feel sorry for Balogun," Hyde noted. The striker's red card was initially shown for a challenge in the group stage, but Trump's intervention led to its overturn.
Global reaction
The incident united fans worldwide against perceived corruption. "Nothing like failed chicanery to bring us together," Hyde wrote. The US defeat was celebrated globally, with hopes that accountability might follow. Infantino's position at Fifa remains secure due to patronage, but critics warn that change is inevitable.
