Belgium celebrate Romelu Lukaku’s goal, which made it 4-1, by copying Donald Trump’s questionable dance moves (Image: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Donald Trump is getting used to being ridiculed following a US sporting loss. The president was amusingly mocked by Belgium players, who seemed to imitate Trump’s distinctive dance moves after their final goal in the 4-1 victory over the US.
Trump had provoked controversy before the last-16 clash by pressing FIFA president Gianni Infantino to rescind the red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun in the victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The global governing body swiftly announced that the automatic one-match suspension for Balogun’s sending-off had been lifted, contentiously allowing him to feature in the fixture. Belgium subsequently had an appeal against the ruling rejected. Nevertheless, Rudi Garcia’s team enjoyed the final word in Seattle as goals from Charles De Ketelaere (two), Hans Vanaken, and Romelu Lukaku secured a quarter-final meeting with Spain.
Having felt hard done by over the Balogun episode, the Belgians emphasised their point with their celebratory Trump-inspired jig, which presumably won’t have been well received by the US leader.
This isn’t the first time the president has been mocked by a sporting rival.
After Europe’s memorable triumph over Team USA at last year’s Ryder Cup in New York, Rory McIlroy filmed the team singing “Are you watching Donald Trump?” with the cup
The footage quickly reached the president, who unexpectedly responded positively to the jibes. Writing on Truth Social, he said: “Yes, I’m watching. Congratulations!”
Rory McIlroy lead chants of, “Are you watching Donald Trump?” (Image: Rory McIlroy/X)
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Trump’s World Cup intervention shows no signs of abating, with Infantino facing mounting pressure to step down.
FIFA maintains stringent regulations regarding political interference in the affairs of its national associations, having suspended the Nepalese federation only last month for third-party meddling.
Infantino released a statement on Monday claiming the decision had been made by its independent disciplinary committee, only for Trump to disclose he had personally lobbied Infantino.
The president said: “I saw the play. That [challenge by Balogun] wasn’t a foul, that wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other.
“These were two great athletes that got tangled up and this referee, who is a little bit suspect, if you check his past, he made a call that nobody could believe. He [Balogun] didn’t do anything wrong and he’s our best player, or one of our best players. And he gave him a red card.
“It’s very unfair, you can’t do that. So, yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who’s highly respected [Infantino] and by the way, whose level of respect has gone up tenfold.”
Nevertheless, Infantino will likely be regretting that Trump made the details of their conversation public as scrutiny intensifies on the FIFA supremo.