Donald Trump has displayed his level of knowledge when it comes to the rules of football with a bizarre rant in the wake of the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s suspended red card for the USA.
The President confirmed on Monday afternoon that he did make a call to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the incident, which saw the USMNT striker dismissed against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the previous round.
An independent committee eventually ruled that Balogun’s ban would be suspended until next year, a decision that sparked outrage among football fans for the precedent it set. Trump’s involvement and close relationship with Infantino also came under the spotlight as a result.
REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Trump explained his reasoning for getting on the phone with Infantino at the White House when addressing the press. The 80-year-old claimed he didn’t believe it was a foul and asked for a review for that reason.
He said: “All I did was I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul. Again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything that would be different.”
He then went on to explain he couldn’t tell FIFA what to do, despite seemingly giving them a nudge in a certain direction. But he still made a case for the best players always being allowed to play, regardless of what took place in their previous outing.
Citing Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane in his lengthy rant, Trump continued:
“If they wouldn’t allow a top player, maybe among the best players on the team, to play, I think it would have had a big stain and I related just that feeling. I didn’t tell them what to do. I can’t tell them what to do. I don’t believe he [Infantino] made the decision.
“I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, number one, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players. How would you feel if you took [Lionel] Messi, or [Cristiano] Ronaldo or Harry Kane out? You can’t do that.”
“We gotta have our best players. We gotta have our best and they gotta have their best. And if we win or we lose, it’s fair,” he added.
The main reason behind this stance is that the President had no clue what a red card meant in football, or the ramifications. He admitted: “I didn’t know what the hell a red card was. When I found out, I said, ‘You gotta be kidding!'” Watch his full rant below.
Wimbledon is among the most lucrative tennis tournaments on the planet, but what are the ball boys and girls paid who help to ensure that every match at SW19 runs smoothly?
While singles champions take home a record £3.6 million and first-round casualties pocket £80,000, naturally, the youngsters on duty don’t make anywhere close to that sort of money.
However, that isn’t to say that the job isn’t highly sought after. The All England Club maintains a highly competitive selection process, pulling the vast majority of its 280-strong cohort from approximately 1,400 local school applicants in Year 9 and 10.
Training For Wimbledon Ball Boys and Girls Explored
Andrew Couldridge via Reuters
Former holders of the role insist that the preparation for it mirrors a high-stakes athletic boot camp rather than a casual summer job. Training officially begins in February at local indoor facilities, requiring teenagers to master physical endurance, precise ball-rolling physics, and prolonged periods of immobility.
By mid-may, operations transition directly to the SW19 grass courts, where the teenagers work in strict, high-stress one-hour rotations under the scrutiny of millions of global television viewers.
“The training was intense and very physical. We practiced how to throw the ball perfectly to the players and how to stand still for long periods,” Alex Crockford, a former Wimbledon ball boy, told The Mirror.
Pay for Wimbledon Ball Boys and Girls in 2026
Susan Mullane via Reuters
Despite the demanding nature of both the training and the job itself, it may surprise you to learn that the teenagers selected don’t technically earn a salary at all.
Those selected for this year’s tournament will perform under strict professional conditions for a flat expense stipend rather than a standard wage, highlighting the stark financial divide at the heart of the multi-million-pound tournament.
The around 280 teenagers that are present to smooth the operation of all 675 matches across the fortnight will receive just £200 to cover basic expenses.
Carson Branstine made a lasting impression at last year’s Wimbledon, but her bank balance wasn’t as you’d expect.
The flat rate, combined with the perk of keeping a luxury Ralph Lauren tournament uniform, has sparked contemporary debates over the extraction of elite, high-pressure labor under the guise of sporting tradition.
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Despite the lack of an hourly wage or formal salary, the role remains a highly sought-after badge of honor across participating boroughs.
The minimal payout exposes growing friction within the current sports landscape. As Wimbledon’s global broadcasting rights and corporate hospitality revenues reach historical peaks, the event continues to rely heavily on a “prestige economy” that trades financial compensation for social cachet. While the young participants overwhelmingly express pride in their roles, industry watchdogs question how long a multi-million-pound entertainment product can ethically justify an unpaid workforce.
Two Premier League clubs are said to be considering a move for a Tottenham player who could push for a move this summer. Spurs have had a memorable summer transfer window so far, racking up a club-record spending bill of more than £230million, and more spending is expected.
Back-to-back bottom half Premier League finishes have scared the Tottenham board into action, and Roberto De Zerbi is benefiting in a major way, notably being handed Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, along with others.
But a high number of new signings is not good news for everyone, and some players now face having to leave.
Bergvall wants out of Tottenham
via Reuters
According to various reports, Lucas Bergvall wants to leave Tottenham this summer. The Sweden international saw his play time reduced after De Zerbi’s arrival towards the end of last season, and there is no obvious path to his play time increasing next season.
Spurs have James Maddison back to full fitness, while Xavi Simons will also be an option in the 10 position. Conor Gallagher and Mateus Fernandes can also play further forward, while there are options out wide, and De Zerbi is expected to further add to those options.
In Bergvall’s defence, it’s understandable how he doesn’t see a role in the Tottenham starting XI next season, even if fans are going to want to see him show a little more ambition to fight for his place.
Premier League duo eye Bergvall move
Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – November 29, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall in action with Fulham’s Harry Wilson REUTERS/David Klein
According to Pete O’Rourke and Football Insider, there are two clubs currently interested in a move for Bergvall this summer. O’Rourke said on the Transfer Insider Podcast: “I’m sure Tottenham don’t want to keep a player who is unhappy and has indicated that he is interested in a move away. Nottingham Forest have shown a bit of interest in him as a potential replacement for Elliot Anderson, and Aston Villa are long-term admirers of Bergvall as well.”
Spurs are currently said to be ruling out a move for Bergvall, but the situation could change if the player demands an exit. No manager is going to want an unhappy player kicking around,but given the Swede is only 20 years of age and with clear talent and potential, there could be a situation where he is loaned out rather than sold.
De Zerbi could also play a more selfish game and keep Bergvall around until at least January, keeping in mind Simons is not going to return until the winter.
Frank’s praise for Bergvall
Former Spurs boss Thomas Frank was a big fan of Bergvall, and he believed the youngster’s best position would be behind the 10, although the signings of Sandro Tonali and Fernandes won’t help his cause there, either.
“Lucas is very talented. I think he will end up as what we call an eight, that’s where I think he will end, but who knows? He’s more than capable of playing as a 10 or he can play a more midfield role from the side as he did against Liverpool,” Frank said last year.
“He’s a player we can use in different roles which is hugely beneficial and important, to have that player who can run in behind, he’s very good at pressing, good on the ball and he can drive forward with the ball. Over time he will fall into a more fixed position. It’s completely normal for a young player to play in different positions. To be that flexible is a huge boost. Look at Szoboszlai, who we all think is one of the best midfielders in the league.”
Liverpool have opened talks to sign one of the standout young talents at the World Cup.
Liverpool Sign Celtic Defender
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have sealed a deal to sign Celtic defender Dara Jikiemi on a five-year contract.
Jikiemi is the Scotland U16 captain, and it’s a huge statement that Liverpool have offered him a five-year contract at his age.
The 16-year-old is unlikely to come into the senior setup, and it will likely be a while before Liverpool fans can see him in action for the first team.
Jikiemi has yet to make his Celtic debut, and he now looks set to make the move to Liverpool.
