"Commerce Secretary Persuaded President… Called FIFA President When No Other Way Remained"

[Anchor]

U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun, who had been suspended from playing in the World Cup, will be able to compete in the Round of 16 after a single phone call from President Trump. Reports suggest that the Secretary of Commerce stepped in to persuade the President, leading to criticism within the U.S. that this situation is a disgrace whether they win or lose.

Kim Beom-joo reports from New York.

[Reporter]

The Wall Street Journal reported that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick played a role in overturning the one-match suspension of U.S. national team ace Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play in the Round of 16.

Balogun was sent off after stepping on an opponent's foot during the Round of 32 match held on July 2.

It is reported that Secretary Lutnick called President Trump several times, arguing that the red card was unfair and that it would put the U.S. team at a disadvantage in the Round of 16.

The newspaper reported that President Trump instructed his aides to find a way to lift the suspension, even mobilizing lawyers to explore ways to challenge FIFA's decision, which was based on a video review.

However, after the U.S. Soccer Federation reported that there was no way to appeal and that Balogun was an irreplaceable player, President Trump reportedly called FIFA President Gianni Infantino directly to have the suspension lifted.

When asked today (July 7) why he made the call, President Trump replied that he did it because it was worth doing.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: I didn't think it was a foul, so I asked them to review it. I am good at these things.]

He added that if the U.S. had lost to Belgium in the Round of 16 today because Balogun did not play, he would have claimed the match was rigged.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: If Belgium had won, I would have said the match was rigged, just like the 2020 election. Although I won't say that here.]

Criticism is pouring in even within the United States.

[Roger Bennett / Founder of Men in Blazers Media: This is something you would see in professional wrestling. The fact that Balogun's suspension was lifted is unbelievable, absurd, and ridiculous.]

The Belgian side appealed the decision to FIFA, but FIFA dismissed the appeal, stating that Belgium had no standing to challenge the ruling.

(Video reporting: Lee Hee-hoon, Video editing: Jung Yong-hwa)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.