Norway Prepares FIFA Ethics Complaint Over Trump’s Influence on Balogun World Cup Ban
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is set to lodge a formal ethics complaint with FIFA regarding former U.S. President Donald Trump’s involvement in the reversal of Folarin Balogun’s one‑match suspension for the 2026 World Cup.
NFF President Lise Klaveness stated that FIFA must acknowledge it erred when it lifted Balogun’s automatic ban after a red card in the USA’s last‑32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Balogun’s dismissal should have ruled him out of the subsequent group‑stage match against Belgium, but FIFA suspended the sanction for 12 months after Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review.
Klaveness warned that letting political figures interfere with disciplinary decisions jeopardises football’s integrity and sets a perilous precedent.
She told The Times, “Bending a rule like this puts the whole game on a slippery slope. It worries me when fundamental regulations are compromised for external pressure.”
The NFF intends to pursue the matter through FIFA’s ethics mechanisms, arguing that outside political intervention erodes trust in the sport’s disciplinary process.
Separately, human‑rights group FairSquare has filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee, alleging that Infantino violated political neutrality rules in his dealings with Trump.
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