REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Blake Dahlin
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded to the Folarin Balogun news with an iconic soccer meme
The Folarin Balogun red card drama reached the highest office in the land as reports indicate that President Trump phoned FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to discuss the issue. Now New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is among the high-profile politicians weighing in on the drama.
After Politico reporter Chris Sommerfeldt pointed out that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had yet to make a public statement on the Folarin Balogun ruling — while also noting that he previously categorized the red card as being “cruelly” given to Balogun — the NYC Mayor chimed in with one of ‘Football Twitter’s’ most iconic social media stalwarts: the Jose Mourinho “I prefer not to speak” meme.
“I prefer not to speak,” Mourinho famously said to Sky Sports after Chelsea lost 1-0 to Aston Villa in 2014 after two of Chelsea’s players were sent off by referee Chris Foy. “If I speak, I am in big trouble. In big trouble. And I don’t want to be in big trouble.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded to the Folarin Balogun drama with the iconic Jose Mourinho “I prefer not to speak” meme
https://t.co/L7gB6chigX pic.twitter.com/3jsDj7LPxS
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) July 6, 2026
The situation surrounding Balogun has evolved into becoming the most controversial story of the World Cup after FIFA announced that the striker, who has three goals so far in the World Cup, would be eligible to play for the USA in the Round of 16 despite receiving a red card and a one-match suspension in the Round of 32.
President Trump has gloated over the ruling, while the Royal Belgian Football Association and UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, have both released statements harshly criticizing FIFA, with Belgium saying they will “continue to contest the ‘eligibility’ of Balogun and that they have told US Soccer they reserve all options if he is on the team sheet tonight,” according to The Athletic’s Adam Crafton.
As for the USMNT, manager Mauricio Pochettino was certainly in favor of the decision, arguing that the team was already punished by having to play the last ~30 minutes against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
“Ultimately, we aren’t victims, but we aren’t the villains of this story either,” Pochettino said.