Trump Role in World Cup Balogun Red-Card Case Draws Norway Ethics Complaint Threat/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Manmsour/ Norway’s soccer federation is considering a formal FIFA ethics complaint over President Donald Trump’s involvement in the disciplinary case against U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. Balogun’s automatic one-game suspension was deferred after Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino, allowing the player to face Belgium. Norwegian federation President Lise Klaveness says the decision was influenced by outside forces and undermined football’s disciplinary rules.
Quick Look
- Norway could file a FIFA ethics complaint over the Balogun ruling.
- Its federation board is expected to discuss the issue, likely on Aug. 6.
- Balogun received a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- Red cards routinely result in an automatic one-game suspension.
- Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino about the decision.
- FIFA deferred the suspension, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium.
- Belgium defeated the United States 4-1.
- Trump called the red card a “horrible” decision and took credit for FIFA’s review.
- Norway alleges the disciplinary process was improperly influenced.
- FairSquare filed a related ethics complaint with the International Olympic Committee.
- FIFA has not published documents explaining the Balogun ruling.
Deep Look
Norway Weighs Complaint Over Balogun Decision
GENEVA — Norway’s soccer federation is considering filing a formal ethics complaint with FIFA over President Donald Trump’s role in a World Cup disciplinary ruling involving U.S. forward Folarin Balogun.
The Norwegian federation said its board will review the issue at its next meeting, expected to take place Aug. 6.
“We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error,” federation President Lise Klaveness told The Times of London.
Klaveness is referring to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has developed close personal and political ties with Trump.
Trump Called Infantino After Red Card
Balogun received a red card following video review for a tackle during the United States’ match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Under standard tournament disciplinary procedures, the dismissal should have resulted in an automatic one-game suspension.
Trump publicly criticized the referee’s decision, describing it as “horrible.” He then contacted Infantino and later took credit for prompting FIFA to review the case.
FIFA deferred Balogun’s suspension, allowing him to play against Belgium in a match that determined which team would advance to the quarterfinals.
Belgium Defeats United States 4-1
Belgium beat the United States 4-1 following a turbulent 36 hours dominated by debate over FIFA’s decision.
The Belgian players appeared motivated by the controversy, which became one of the most unusual disciplinary disputes in recent World Cup history.
The ruling was unprecedented in the previous 60 years of World Cup competition, according to the original report.
Klaveness Alleges Outside Influence
Klaveness questioned whether FIFA followed an independent and legitimate disciplinary process.
“We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process,” she told The Times.
“When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,” she added.
FIFA has not published the disciplinary documents explaining why Balogun’s automatic suspension was deferred.
Norway Warns About Integrity of the Game
Klaveness said enforcing established rules is essential to protecting public confidence in international soccer.
“It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game,” she said.
Klaveness is a lawyer, judge and former Norwegian Women’s World Cup player. She also serves as an elected member of UEFA’s executive committee.
Since becoming president of Norway’s federation in 2022, she has positioned the organization as a prominent advocate for accountability and ethical standards in world soccer.
Norway Previously Joined Infantino Complaint
Norway has already participated in a separate complaint against Infantino.
The federation joined a filing by London-based human rights organization FairSquare accusing the FIFA president of violating the organization’s duty of political neutrality.
That complaint cited Infantino’s decision to create a peace prize and present it to Trump during the World Cup draw in December.
Trump and Infantino Maintain Close Relationship
Trump and Infantino have maintained a close public relationship.
The New York Post reported that Trump considers Infantino a potential candidate to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations.
Those ties have intensified questions about whether Trump’s intervention influenced the handling of Balogun’s disciplinary case.
No formal ethics determination has established that Infantino violated FIFA’s rules in the matter.
FairSquare Takes Complaint to IOC
FairSquare has also submitted an ethics complaint concerning the Balogun case to the International Olympic Committee.
Infantino is an elected IOC member, and the complaint alleges that the incident may have violated the Olympic body’s political-neutrality rules.
The IOC and FIFA rarely acknowledge pending ethics complaints or provide public updates while cases are being considered.
FIFA Ethics Process Faces Scrutiny
Questions about the independence of FIFA’s ethics system date to 2017, when its lead investigator and chief ethics judge were replaced during Infantino’s second year as president.
Critics have argued that those changes weakened the credibility of the process used to investigate alleged misconduct.
The organization’s continued failure to publish explanations for disciplinary decisions involving Balogun and other World Cup players has added to calls for transparency.
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