Trump Called Fifa Chief to Overturn Red Card, Raising World Cup Integrity Questions

FIFA President Gianni Infantino admitted he took a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump before American forward Folarin Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium on Monday. The admission has sparked questions about the integrity of the World Cup. Balogun received a red card during the U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week. That card meant an automatic suspension for the Belgium game. Trump called Infantino after the Bosnia match to argue for the suspension to be overturned. FIFA then allowed Balogun to play. European football leaders have criticized the decision, saying it undermines the fairness of the tournament. Infantino defended the call, but did not provide details on how the suspension was lifted. The controversy continues as the World Cup moves forward.