Norway Prepares FIFA Ethics Complaint Over Trump’s Influence on Balogun World Cup Ban
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is preparing a formal ethics complaint to FIFA concerning former U.S. President Donald Trump’s involvement in overturning Folarin Balogun’s automatic one‑match ban during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
NFF president Lise Klaveness said FIFA must acknowledge that it made a serious error by rescinding the sanction after Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review.
Balogun received a red card in the United States’ last‑32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, a dismissal that should have ruled him out of the subsequent match against Belgium.
Instead of serving the ban, FIFA suspended the punishment for 12 months after Trump’s intervention, a move Klaveness warned opens the door to political influence in sporting decisions.
“When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that puts the whole game at risk,” Klaveness told The Times. “It is worrying when fundamental rules are compromised for external pressure.”
She added that the decision appeared to be driven by outside forces and lacked proper procedural integrity, warning that accommodating state leaders could shift the organisation’s behaviour and erode the red line on political interference.
The NFF intends to pursue the matter through FIFA’s ethics channels, arguing that such political meddling undermines confidence in the game’s disciplinary process.
Separately, human‑rights organisation FairSquare has lodged complaints with the International Olympic Committee, alleging that Infantino breached political neutrality rules in his dealings with Trump.
About the Author
