Washington, July 6 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Monday defended his intervention in a controversial red card issued to a United States player at the FIFA World Cup, saying he merely requested a review because the sending-off was unjustified and insisting the tournament should feature its best players.

Speaking at the White House after launching the “Trump Accounts” investment programme for American children, Trump confirmed he had spoken with FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the incident and believed the governing body ultimately reached the correct decision by allowing the player to remain eligible.

“I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said. “I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face.”

The President rejected suggestions that he had pressured FIFA to overturn the decision.

“I had nothing to do with the decision,” he said. “All I did was ask for a review.”

Trump said he had been surprised to learn that a red card would also suspend the player for the following match.

“I didn’t know what the hell a red card was,” he said. “When I found out, I said, you’ve got to be kidding. Your best player is not going to play next week or in the next game.”

He argued that removing one of the team’s leading players would have undermined the integrity of the tournament.

“You’ve got to have our best players,” Trump said. “If they beat us, then they can be really proud. Otherwise… it would be a terrible thing.”

Trump also praised Infantino, calling him “a smart, tough man” who had overseen what he described as the most successful World Cup in history.

“This has been four times more successful,” Trump said of the tournament in the United States. “Every game is like a Super Bowl.”

The President said he had watched the recent Mexico-England match and was impressed by the level of public interest, claiming television audiences were reaching Super Bowl-sized numbers.

He added that football’s popularity in the United States had grown rapidly and credited the tournament with drawing unprecedented attention from American audiences.

Trump also suggested the referee who issued the red card had made “a horrible” decision, saying there had been several more physical challenges during the match that did not result in similar punishment.

“I think the referee’s call was horrible,” he said. “It was not a foul.”

Asked whether his public comments could set a precedent for political leaders seeking to influence sporting decisions, Trump maintained that he had simply expressed his opinion after watching the incident.

“I didn’t tell him what to do,” he said of Infantino. “I said, I think it should be reviewed.”

The President said he looked forward to the United States taking the field with its strongest available team, arguing that both sides should compete on equal terms.

“We have to have all the best players on the field,” Trump said. “If we win or we lose, it’s fair.”

–IANS

lkj/ksk/pgh