How the White House Overturned a World Cup Red Card

President Trump personally intervened to overturn a red card issued to a U.S. player during a World Cup match, a move that FIFA’s disciplinary committee ultimately rescinded under a rarely used provision. That is the most striking development in a Monday news cycle that also includes a NATO summit shadowed by European distrust of the U.S., a potential $7 billion takeover bid for EasyJet, and new data suggesting EV batteries are far more durable than consumers assume.

Trump and the World Cup Red Card

The most unusual story of the weekend involved President Trump calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino to argue that a red card shown to a U.S. player during a World Cup match was unfair. The card had been issued during a game against Belgium, and the U.S. coach, Maurizio Pochettino, declined to say whether it was appropriate for Trump to get involved, noting only that "football should more than a religion." Infantino agreed to look into the matter after Trump’s call but did not commit to overturning the card. The next day, FIFA’s disciplinary committee rescinded it under a provision allowing it to exercise discretion when reviewing sanctions. The Belgian coach compared the reversal to April Fool’s Day and noted it appeared to be the first time since 1962 that a red card issued during a World Cup match did not result in a suspension. The episode injected presidential politics d