Critics can smear President Donald Trump for plenty of things, but they can never say he fails to advocate for American interests with a doggedness that borders on obsession. Even, apparently, when it comes to World Cup soccer matches ‒ to the shock, chagrin and perhaps even awe of much of the rest of the world.

Trump said July 6 that he asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review a decision that had already sparked controversy at the World Cup. During the July 1 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, U.S. striker Folarin Balogun was given a red card and banned for one game after stepping on his opponent's ankle.

FIFA then announced July 5 that it had rescinded Balogun's red card and would allow him to play in the U.S. Men's National Team's July 6 match against Belgium.

“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this,’” Trump said from the Oval Office. “I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled.”

“I didn’t tell (Infantino) what to do. I can’t tell him what to do,” he added.

The Royal Belgian Football Association filed an appeal of FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play July 6, but it got rejected.

Trump's call to FIFA's Infantino........

© USA TODAY