Quote · The Megyn Kelly Show
Explosive Moments From Tyler Robinson Hearing, and Trump's FIFA Controversy, with Geragos, Murphy, Aronberg, Merchant, Frei, and Sage Steele | Ep. 1353
Where this was said
FIFA World Cup Red Card Controversy Explained
At 8:24 · chapter starts 6:00
Megyn Kelly dives into the biggest sports controversy of the moment: US soccer star Folarin Balogun received a straight red card from referee Rafael Claus following a video assistant referee review of a play that the on-field refs initially did not even call a foul. Analysts across the board condemned the call as excessive, but a red card meant Balogun would miss the Belgium round-of-16 game. The US escalated quickly: Harold Lutnick and Andrew Giuliani reportedly devised a plan to get President Trump to intervene. Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, asked for a review, and the card was subsequently suspended for up to a year. Kelly notes the involvement of Trump's team is well documented in the Wall Street Journal. Belgium immediately filed an appeal, but FIFA rejected it — meaning Balogun can play tonight.
President Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card against US player Folarin Balogun — and it worked. The card was suspended for up to a year, clearing Balogun to play Belgium, but FIFA publicly denied Trump's call influenced the independent disciplinary committee.
President Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card issued to US player Folarin Balogun, and the card was subsequently suspended for up to a year.
Sage Steele is thrilled Balogun gets to play but uneasy about a sitting president pressuring FIFA. She flags the asterisk problem: if the US wins, the world will say they needed Trump to clear the path. Sports and politics are now fully intertwined — and she doesn't love it.
