The Norwegian Football Federation is planning a formal FIFA ethics complaint over Donald Trump’s political interference in overturning Folarin Balogun’s World Cup 2026 red card ban, with NFF president Lise Klaveness urging FIFA to admit the decision was a serious error.
Recall that Balogun was sent off in a last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, which should have triggered a ban for the next match against Belgium.
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However, FIFA unexpectedly suspended the ban for 12 months after U.S. President Donald Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to demand a review.
Klaveness stated that bending fundamental rules for state leaders sets a dangerous precedent and puts the integrity of the entire sport at risk.
‘When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,’ Klaveness told The Times. ‘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.’
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‘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.’
Meanwhile, human rights group FairSquare also lodged complaints with the International Olympic Committee regarding Infantino’s political neutrality breaches involving Trump
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