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Mayor Zohran Mamdani refused to discuss President Trump stepping in to reverse a controversial World Cup red card against a US player — prompting one reporter to ask the 34-year-old mayor if he was “scared.”
Soccer superfan Mamdani focused on the red card against US striker Folarin Balogun, calling it “cruel” but oddly dodging questions about whether he thought Trump should have gotten involved in the effort to overturn it.
“No, there’s no agreement between the president and I to not talk about this, and I haven’t talked to the president about the red card,” said Mamdani, who has previously admitted to exchanging texts with the president since a surprisingly chummy White House meeting between the two.
“I make my own decisions,” Mamdani said after asking if he was scared to chime in. “I think more of us are now thinking about the game itself, the team, the incredible run, and the hopes for the future.”
Balogun was set to be banned from Monday’s do-or-die game against Belgium because of the card, but FIFA ultimately allowed him to play after a push from US Soccer — and a direct appeal by Trump to the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino.
In the end, the striker’s presence had little effect, with the US team losing in a 4-1 thrashing that ended their World Cup title hopes in the tournament’s Round of 16.
“I think that Folarin Balogun should have never been given that red card. I thought it was a cruel red card,” Mamdani said, calling it “a very difficult night.”
The card was handed to Balogun on a questionable penalty in the second half of a US matchup with Bosnia-Herzegovin. Under cup rules, the card meant Balogun had to sit for the rest of the game — with the US barred from replacing him — while he would be banned from play for one additional matchup.
FIFA formally reversed the ban Sunday, but Mamdani was conspicuously mum.
On Sunday, he shared a clip of legendary soccer manager José Mourinho saying, “I prefer not to speak. If I speak, big trouble.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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