Donald Trump’s involvement in the decision to exempt Folarin Balogun from a mandatory one-game suspension during the World Cup is prompting the Norway soccer federation to contemplate a formal complaint to Fifa’s ethics committee.
On Thursday, the federation announced that its board will deliberate on the potential filing during a meeting scheduled for August 6.
Norwegian Federation’s Concerns
Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness stated in an interview published Thursday, “We need our leader in Fifa to say that this was an error,” After Trump contacted Fifa president Gianni Infantino, Balogun’s suspension for a red-card incident against Bosnia and Herzegovina was postponed, allowing him to participate in the crucial match against Belgium.
Impact of Balogun’s Suspension
Belgium triumphed over the United States with a score of 4-1 following a tumultuous 36-hour period at the tournament. The Belgian players appeared to draw motivation from one of the most contentious moments in World Cup history. Trump criticized the referee’s decision to issue a red card to Balogun after a video review, labeling it a “We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process,” call and claiming credit for prompting Fifa to reassess a suspension that should have been standard.
“When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,”
Klaveness remarked, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the Fifa ruling in the past six decades of World Cup history. She expressed concerns about the implications of bending the rules, stating,
“It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game,”
the former Women’s World Cup player added. Klaveness, a lawyer and judge, has worked to position the Norwegian federation as a moral compass in global soccer since her election in 2022. She further stated,
“It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game,”
referring to the failure to enforce Balogun’s suspension.
Previous Complaints and Broader Implications
Previously, Norway joined a complaint filed by a London-based NGO with the Fifa ethics committee, alleging that Infantino violated a statutory duty of political neutrality by establishing a peace prize to present to Trump during the World Cup draw in December. Reports indicate that the personal and political connections between Trump and Infantino include the former president’s belief that the soccer official could be a suitable candidate for the next United Nations Secretary-General.
Additionally, the human rights organization FairSquare has submitted an ethics complaint concerning the Balogun incident to the International Olympic Committee, where Infantino serves as an elected member, alleging a breach of political neutrality rules.
Fifa and the IOC typically refrain from commenting or providing updates on ongoing cases before their ethics bodies. The integrity of Fifa’s procedures for addressing allegations of unethical conduct has faced scrutiny since both the lead investigator and the judge were replaced in 2017, during Infantino’s second year in office. Fifa has yet to release documents detailing how its disciplinary judges reached their decisions regarding Balogun and other World Cup players.
