Donald Trump‘s intervention in Folarin Balogun‘s World Cup suspension is now threatening to create fresh problems for FIFA.
Soccer’s global governing body could soon face a formal challenge from one of its member nations, as Norway’s football federation weighs an ethics complaint over its handling of the striker’s red card.
Trump denied that he pressured FIFA to overturn the USA forward’s suspension, while calling the referee who sent off Balogun “a bit suspect.”
Donald Trump’s controversial intervention in Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red card saga has taken yet another dramatic turn, with the episode now threatening to trigger formal consequences for FIFA.
The Norwegian Football Federation is considering filing an official complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee over the governing body’s decision to suspend Balogun’s automatic one-match ban.
Federation president Lise Klaveness said the matter will be discussed at its next board meeting and could be added to Norway’s existing complaint over FIFA awarding Trump its inaugural Peace Prize.
The latest development brings renewed scrutiny to FIFA’s handling of the case. Balogun was allowed to face Belgium after Trump personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino and requested a review of the red card he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The United States striker started the last-16 clash, which Belgium won 4-1.
Trump Labels Referee ‘A Bit Suspect’
While addressing the controversy surrounding Balogun’s red card, Trump accused Brazilian referee Raphael Claus of being “a bit suspect.”
Trump specifically took aim at Claus during an interview at the White House over the punishment Balogun received for a challenge on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemović during the sides’ Round of 32 clash. He appeared to question Claus’s suitability to officiate such a high-profile match by alleging the referee had a questionable record.
Claus was called as a witness in a 2024 Brazilian investigation into match-fixing but was cleared of any wrongdoing.
“This referee who is a little bit suspect if you check his past,” Trump said. “I don’t want to say that because I don’t like to create controversy, but very suspect.”
He added, “If you’d like, I’ll provide you with the past. He made a call that nobody could believe. You know, even people on the other side, they said, ‘Oh, we got lucky.’”
Donald Trump Says Red Card Was Wrong
Trump also insisted the red card itself was the wrong decision.
“So, I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports and was a good athlete, and I understand sports really well, really well. That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction,” the U.S. president emphasized.
He also claimed that, in his view, it was simply “two guys running full speed who happened to crash into each other.”
“Like, you can’t take your foot and properly place it on somebody else’s foot… these were two great athletes that got tangled up,” Trump further remarked.
Trump’s criticism of Claus prompted FIFA to issue a statement defending Claus and reaffirming its confidence in his appointment as one of the officials for the World Cup.
“FIFA recognizes Raphael Claus as one of the world’s leading professional referees and a valued member of Team One at the FIFA World Cup,” the governing body remarked.
FIFA added that “he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” a statement that directly spoke to Trump’s accusation of him having a checkered past.
“Raphael Claus is refereeing at his second FIFA World Cup, having been with us in Qatar in 2022. He is an experienced and highly respected referee, and we maintain full confidence in him as a trusted match official,” former referee Pierluigi Collina weighed in.
Infantino Insists Judicial Bodies Acted Independently
FIFA’s decision to suspend Balogun’s one-match ban for one year has since sparked widespread controversy because of its unusual nature.
In a statement of his own, Infantino also confirmed the call between him and Trump, but downplayed any suggestion that the conversation influenced the decision to suspend the red card.
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected,” the statement read.