The White House contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of Folarin Balogun's red card during the FIFA World Cup, according to an unnamed source. The Associated Press first reported the claim on Sunday, citing a person who insisted on anonymity because they weren't permitted to discuss the call publicly.
The source confirmed that the White House reached out to FIFA about reconsidering the decision to dismiss the United States forward. However, the person couldn't reveal who made the call or when it happened.
FIFA later overturned Balogun's red card, prompting a response from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump celebrated on his social media platform, writing: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"
Neither the White House nor FIFA released additional public statements about the reported conversation or the review process that led to the reversal. The two organisations have remained largely silent on the matter since the card was overturned.
