The Norwegian Football Federation is set to escalate its battle with Fifa over what it calls a ‘slippery slope’ after US President Donald Trump’s intervention helped overturn a red-card ban for Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.
Balogun, the United States forward, was shown a straight red card during his side’s 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and was expected to miss the last-16 tie against Belgium. But after a phone call between Trump and Fifa president Gianni Infantino, the automatic one-match ban was suspended for 12 months. No reason was given, beyond citing a rule that allows punishments to be deferred. Balogun started the match, which Belgium won 4-1.
“Norway to consider formal complaint against Fifa after Trump intervention suspended Balogun's red-card ban.”
Norway’s federation president, Lise Klaveness, said the federation had reacted with “strong concern”. Its board will consider filing a formal complaint to Fifa’s ethics committee at its next meeting, likely on 6 August. “We need our leader in Fifa to say that this was an error,” Klaveness told the Times. “We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process. When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk.”
Norway previously joined a complaint to the same ethics committee about Fifa awarding its first Peace Prize to Trump at the World Cup draw in December. Klaveness said it was “appropriate to include the Balogun case” in that ongoing inquiry.
The controversy has rippled beyond football. The International Olympic Committee, where Infantino has been a member since 2020, may also investigate. The human rights NGO FairSquare filed an ethics complaint about the Balogun incident, arguing Infantino breached the Olympic charter’s clause on political neutrality – which states members “will not accept from governments … any mandate or instructions liable to interfere with the freedom of their action and vote”. The IOC said complaints are confidential and it will only communicate any sanctions.
Trump claimed credit for the decision, calling the red card “horrible” in a news conference at the Oval Office on 6 July. Infantino has insisted Fifa’s judicial bodies operate independently. The Belgium players, meanwhile, appeared galvanised by the uproar, producing a chaotic 4-1 win that ended US hopes.
It remains to be seen whether the ethics committee will take up the Norwegian complaint or whether Fifa’s leadership will ever acknowledge external pressure – but, as Klaveness warned, the credibility of the game’s rules hangs in the balance.