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Landon Donovan has voiced regret that a disciplinary decision involving teammate Folarin Balogun devolved into an unwanted political spectacle during the World Cup. Balogun initially received a red card in the round of 32 that would have barred him from subsequent matches, but FIFA overturned the suspension and cleared him to play.
President Donald Trump subsequently revealed he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the card, citing his belief that no foul had occurred. FIFA denied that Trump’s intervention influenced the decision, though the revelation intensified the controversy surrounding the ruling.
Donovan told Fox News Digital that the escalating dispute undermined what had been a unifying national experience. “I was disappointed because it had been a World Cup full of nonpartisanship — people just loving America, loving the flag and loving what they were watching. Then it became very messy, and nobody wanted to see that,” Donovan said in a recent interview.
The former USMNT star acknowledged that Balogun and his teammates struggled with the distraction created by the red card saga. “It tainted what had been an incredible run,” Donovan added, noting that the card should never have been issued in the first place.
Trump characterized the incident as a routine request for reconsideration based on his assessment of the play. “All I did was I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump stated, describing the collision as two athletes becoming entangled rather than a deliberate infraction.
Balogun confirmed the ordeal created emotional strain for the squad as they prepared for their next contest. Belgium ultimately prevailed in that match with a 4-1 victory, though the team’s strong performance could not fully erase the controversy surrounding his eligibility.
The International Olympic Committee announced it would not investigate Infantino regarding Trump’s phone call, effectively closing that inquiry into the matter.
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