President Donald Trump says the referee who handed US striker Folarin Balogun a red card has a very suspect past.This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. I dont want to say that because I dont like to create controversy, but very suspect, Trump said as he justified his pressuring of FIFA to review the red card.Referee Raphael Claus, from Brazil, ejected Balogun after the US star stepped on an opposing players ankle during a tackle. News Analysis & Summary In a controversial statement, President Donald Trump has claimed that referee Raphael Claus, who issued a red card to US striker Folarin Balogun during a match, has a 'very suspect' past. Trump justified his pressure on FIFA to review the decision by questioning the referee's history, though he declined to elaborate to avoid 'creating controversy.' The incident occurred when Balogun stepped on an opposing player's ankle during a tackle, leading to a straight red card. In my opinion, this is a classic example of Trump leveraging his platform to influence sports governance, similar to his previous interventions in other domains. While questioning referee decisions is common, targeting an official's character without evidence risks undermining the integrity of officiating. The foul itself was clear-cut, but whether a red card was excessive is a matter for standard review. Ultimately, Trump's remarks shift focus from the game to politics, highlighting the ongoing intersection of sports and political figures. Source: @AlArabiya_Eng on X/TwitterPublic Engagement Views: 1,578 Published: July 6, 2026, 2:49 pm