President Donald Trump boasted on Friday about pressuring FIFA over a red card suspension and took credit for the World Cup’s success during a reception in New York City ahead of the final on Sunday.
“I was forced to call Gianni and make a recommendation,” the Republican president said, standing alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino inside Trump Tower. He was referring to a call earlier this month in which he urged Infantino to review U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban — which was later suspended in a decision that drew scrutiny.
