President Donald Trump’s request for FIFA to review Folarin Balogun’s suspension should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism. This isn’t just a matter of sportsmanship—it’s a springboard for Trump to insert himself into the narrative of international sports. And let’s face it, did any of us expect a scandal-free move from FIFA? Just look at how outlets like CNN and MSNBC treat this. They’re spinning it into a fodder for mocking Trump, while failing to examine the deeper implications of athletes getting tangled in political webs.

Meanwhile, Fox News seems cautiously supportive, presenting it as a grand gesture. But let’s call a spade a spade: they’re cheerleading for a man whose history is replete with self-serving actions. The underlying agenda? Keep the spectacle going to distract the public from actual issues. Who needs a functioning government when you can have reality TV politics?

Is this really about Balogun, or just about keeping the spotlight firmly on Trump as he positions himself as a ‘savior’ of sorts? Mainstream media is either too busy mocking or glamorizing instead of engaging with what this means for athlete autonomy and political influence over sports governance. It’s all about selling clicks, not delivering substance.