WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Monday claimed responsibility for prompting FIFA to examine a red card given to American star forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, yet he stressed that he did not insist on a particular result.

"All I did was request an examination," Trump said when questioned about the matter during an unrelated Oval Office gathering. "I did not say, 'You must do this.'"

Trump verified that he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino and sought another assessment of the penalty against Balogun in the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina last week in Santa Clara, California, close to San Francisco. Still, he noted that FIFA ultimately chose to remove Balogun's required one-game suspension for a tackle, enabling him to compete in Monday's round of 16 contest against Belgium in Seattle.

FIFA's choice to waive the one-game suspension drew praise from many in the United States but faced criticism across the global sports community, with some labeling it an improper intervention. The Belgian soccer federation disputed Balogun's eligibility for Monday's game, and the UEFA soccer organization in Europe described FIFA's action as "incomprehensible and unjustifiable."

Belgium secured a 4-1 victory, removing the U.S. squad from the competition.

In comments on Monday, Trump labeled the referee's ruling a "horrible" decision. He indicated it would have marred the event if Balogun, the U.S. top scorer at this year's World Cup with three goals, had been sidelined against Belgium and the Americans had fallen. He commended FIFA for lifting the penalty.

"I did not view it as a foul," Trump said. "I believed it involved two skilled athletes who collided and became caught up."

The Republican president, who stated he grasps sports "quite thoroughly," admitted he initially did not understand what a red card entails or the penalties it carries. Upon learning it would result in a one-game suspension for Balogun, he explained, he opted to intervene. He also criticized the application of video review to issue the red card, contending that slowed footage can exaggerate the intensity of actions.

"Belgium possesses a strong squad," Trump said. "We need our top athletes, and they need theirs. And whether we win or lose, it remains equitable."

Shortly after Trump addressed the issue, Infantino released a statement outlining his discussion with Trump and affirming the autonomy of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

"During our exchange, I noted that an active legal procedure was underway with FIFA's independent judicial entities and that the matter would be resolved in time by the appropriate bodies," Infantino said in a statement on X. "That is how FIFA's framework operates, and it is a standard I will always maintain."

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who accompanied Trump at the White House gathering, praised the president for intervening. "On behalf of all Americans, thank you for eliminating that absurd red card," Cruz said during his comments. "It was outstanding."

Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that lifting the penalty for Balogun was appropriate.

In uncommon remarks during a photo opportunity before his meeting with Chile's foreign minister, Rubio wondered why Belgium would seek to prevail in a match "if everyone will claim you did not truly win it because their best, or their leading, scorer was absent from the field."

He quipped that it was turning into an "international incident" ahead of a NATO summit in Turkey this week.

Trump criticized the official responsible for the call, calling Brazilian referee Raphael Claus "somewhat questionable if you examine his history." He offered no further details.