Fact Check: Did Folarin Balogun flash Trump's photo after referee showed him red card?

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid debate surrounding FIFA's reversal of Folarin Balogun's red card, a photo began circulating on social media platforms claiming to show the soccer star pulling out a card with President Donald Trump’s image and showing it to the referee in response to the red card, sparking speculation. Let us analyze the image and fact-check it.

Claim: Folarin Balogun pulled out a card featuring Donald Trump's image

The viral photo shows Balogun holding a card with Trump’s picture featured on it, in response to the red card shown to him by the referee.

The photo has been circulating on several social media platforms such as X, Facebook, and Instagram, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. 

While many who reacted to the picture appeared to believe it to be real, few others dismissed it as fake and questioned its authenticity, prompting a fact check.

Fact Check: The photo is fake and originated as a meme

The picture, however, is fake, and no such incident occurred during the USA's 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, where Balogun received a red card after a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic.

An analysis using AI detection software such as Hive Moderation and Zero GPT revealed that the image is very likely to be generated using Artificial Intelligence. 

According to a fact check by Grok, “The image is a satirical meme, not a real photo. In reality, USMNT striker Folarin Balogun received a controversial straight red card (after VAR review) for stepping on an opponent's foot/ankle during a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1-2, 2026.”

Donald Trump praises FIFA after Folarin Balogun's ban is lifted

The image went viral after Trump celebrated FIFA’s decision to lift the ban on Balogun, describing it as an act to reverse injustice. 

In a Sunday post on Truth Social, the president praised the shocking ruling that clears Balogun to play Monday night against Belgium in the pivotal Round of 16 World Cup match. 

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote. 

FIFA’s ruling is being termed shocking as the governing body has lifted the ban, citing a very rarely used bylaw to suspend the red card that was given to Balogun in his previous match.  

Balogun, by rule, would have been ineligible for the match to be held on Monday if the red card had not been suspended.