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Trump Asks FIFA to Review Balogun Red-Card Suspension

8/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review and lift forward Folarin Balogun’s one-match red-card suspension.
Premier League referees chief Howard Webb said the overturn troubled him and warned it could fuel conspiracy beliefs.
Pro Ref will publish incident assessments and referee-player audio on X and add VAR staff at Stockley Park to cut intervention time to 41 seconds.

History

Historical Context

FIFA approved VAR on 16 March 2018 in Bogotá, and the system’s World Cup debut that summer saw 335 incidents reviewed and fourteen on-field calls overturned. Since Infantino took the presidency in 2016, the technology’s authority has been tested again as U.S. President Donald Trump urged him to reverse Folarin Balogun’s red card, which FIFA finally rescinded on 5 July.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review and lift forward Folarin Balogun’s one-match red-card suspension.
Premier League referees chief Howard Webb said the overturn troubled him and warned it could fuel conspiracy beliefs.
Pro Ref will publish incident assessments and referee-player audio on X and add VAR staff at Stockley Park to cut intervention time to 41 seconds.

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