Angela Rayner risks Trump's wrath as she says FIFA should have ignored demand to drop 'clear red card' for USA star

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 14:43, 6 July 2026 | Updated: 14:49, 6 July 2026 Angela Rayner has risked the wrath of Donald Trump by condemning his intervention over a red card issued to a star USA footballer. The Labour MP - who hopes to rejoin the Cabinet under Andy Burnham - insisted FIFA should have ignored the pressure from the president. Mr Trump has hailed the decision to let Folarin Balogun play in the World Cup last 16 against Belgium, which came after he personally rang FIFA president Gianni Infantino.  But the move has been branded 'unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable' by UEFA, and Belgium has lodged an appeal. Balogun was originally meant to miss the clash - happening 1am UK time tomorrow - after being given a straight red card during the USA's 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32.  But FIFA then suspended Balogun's ban for a one-year 'probationary' period, wiping it out unless he commits another offence of 'similar nature and gravity'. Angela Rayner has risked the wrath of Donald Trump by condemning his intervention over a red card issued to a star USA footballer Balogun was sent off for a tackle during their 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina The football body issued scant explanation for suspending Balogun's ban, merely citing 'Article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code'. That technically allows them to 'fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure'. Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social site: 'Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.'  Hosting a phone-in on LBC this morning, Ms Rayner said the punishment for the USA player was 'clearly' right. 'The FIFA decision to reverse the red card - which was clearly a red card on the US striker - after President Trump got involved in it, which I think is not fair.  'I don't think that's the way we should do it.' Ms Rayner said she had been 'upset' about the red card handed out during England's match against Mexico overnight, but realised it was 'fair enough' after seeing the replay.  'Look, the red card was given,' she said.   'To reverse it because someone powerful says, 'You need to reverse it' - I think that goes against fairness and it goes against the spirit of the game.'  FIFA have appointed an arbitrator from the Appeal Committee to consider Belgium's case but it is a race against time. UEFA - European football's governing body - has released a statement condemning the decision to suspend the ban and make Balogun available for the last-16 clash. FIFA president Gianni Infantino pictured alongside Donald Trump last month Donald Trump took to Truth Social to praise FIFA for 'doing what was right'  'Yesterday's decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line,' read the statement. 'Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not.  'A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.  'It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.'