The Norwegian FA are preparing to launch a formal complaint to FIFA over Donald Trump’s interference in Folarin Balogun’s red card-ban at the World Cup.
USMNT striker Balogun was sent off during their last-32 tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning he was set to be banned from their last-16 clash against Belgium in a huge blow to Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
However, Balogun’s ban was suspended by FIFA after a phone call from Trump to Gianni Infantino, a close confidante of the US President, where he urged the football supremo to allow the striker to play.
Despite Trump’s interventions, the US were thrashed 4-1 by Belgium, yet the 80-year-old has repeatedly boasted about his involvement, including claiming things ‘worked out much better’ when speaking ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final and saying that Infantino made a ‘great decision’.
The antics of Trump and FIFA were widely condemned across the footballing world, and Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) President Lise Klaveness revealed they are planning to formally complain to the governing body’s ethics committee, becoming the first national federation to formally make a stand over the issue.
In an interview with The Times, Klaveness, whose NFF body also complained about Trump being handed a FIFA Peace Prize award by Infantino last year, urged the FIFA chief, who is under fire for potentially breaching political neutrality rules, to admit his organisation made a mistake with the Balogun saga.
The Norwegian FA are planning to complain to FIFA over the Folarin Balogun World Cup saga
Balogun was sent off in the last-32 stage, but Donald Trump intervened and the striker’s ban was suspended so he could play in their last-16 clash against Belgium
‘When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,’ she said. ‘It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game.
‘First of all, it should not have happened. It is very important now to have honest communication around it. We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process.
‘If you start to adapt in such a way towards state leaders and state politics, you will move your behaviour and the organisation’s behaviour, and also the red line of what states’ leaders should interfere with. And that happened.’
Defending his role in the saga, Infantino insisted it was an independent decision taken by FIFA’s disciplinary committee.
He said: ‘They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA’s 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.’
It was reported last week that the decision to suspend Balogun’s red card was ultimately taken by Mohammad al-Kamali, the chairman of that disciplinary committee, yet the official was not said to consult any of the other 17 members of his committee.
Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness pictured with Gianni Infantino
Klaveness admitted that FIFA had a ‘very powerful voice in their ear’ but argued that by refusing to consult more widely, they made a ‘mistake’ and a ‘controversial decision’.
She also highlighted that she was ‘disappointed but not necessarily surprised’ by FIFA’s lack of transparency around the whole situation.
Klaveness added: ‘To try to sweep this under the carpet now will not fly. Too many felt this… coaches, players, fans… that this was too close to the game.’
Klaveness said the case was ‘so serious’ and ‘so worrying’, revealing that she would discuss it with her board, and if they backed her position, an official complaint would be launched.
