NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The World Cup may be over, but some are still upset about the controversy surrounding USMNT star Folarin Balogun’s red card ban that was suspended.
Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness said she will ask her board to pursue a formal ethics complaint about the incident. She called on FIFA to recognize the decision to suspend Balogun’s ban as a mistake.
“We need our leader at FIFA to say this was a mistake,” Klaveness told The Times. “If you start to adapt in such a way to state leaders and state politics, you will shift your behavior and the behavior of the organization, and also the red line of what state leaders should interfere with. And it happened.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Norwegian Football Association President Lisa Klaveness attends the European Football Women’s Gala 2023 at Antiga Fabrica D’Estrella Damm in Barcelona, Spain on November 6, 2023. (Cesc Maymo/WireImage)
Klaveness argued that the proper process was not followed and that bending the rules could jeopardize the entire game.
“First of all, it shouldn’t have happened. It’s very important now to have honest communication about it. We all know that this verdict was influenced by outside forces and did not have due process,” Klaveness said. “When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk. It’s a concern for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game.”
Klaveness called the case of FIFA suspending Balogun’s red card ban both “serious” and “concerning”.
“This case was so serious and so troubling that I hope it can help bring people out a little bit and not be afraid to file cases,” she said. “I will take it to a board meeting and discuss with my board, and then we will do it. To me, it should be in the same sphere of ethical complaint.”
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
United States President Donald Trump looks on before presenting the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy to Spain after the Final – FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask the organization to review the decision to red card American soccer star Folarin Balogun. The red card meant Balogun would have been suspended for the team’s knockout game against Belgium on Monday, but FIFA decided to suspend the ban for one game at Trump’s urging.
Trump addressed the controversy earlier this month.
“All I did was I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a mistake,” the president said. “And again, I’m good at this. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two big athletes crashing into each other and getting tangled up. It wasn’t a guy punching somebody in the face or anything that would be different.
“I think it’s terrible … if they wouldn’t allow a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best on the team, to play, I think that would have had a big stain. I passed it on. I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t think he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision and they made the right decision because, no, and you wanted to see a game. best players.”
Trump said he took issue with the first red card assessed to Balogun in the first place.
“If you would have taken him out, I think it would have really tarnished this incredible championship,” Trump continued. “We have to have our best players and Belgium, by the way, Belgium have a great team. We have our best players and they have to have their best. If we win or we lose, it’s fair. Otherwise, let’s say we lost to them, we lost the game. It would be a terrible thing. I think they made a really brilliant decision.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
USA’s Folarin Balogun (20) walks off the field after losing to Belgium during their World Cup Round of 16 match in Seattle, Washington. Monday 6 July 2026. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)
“I think the referee’s call was terrible and nobody talks about it. They talk about the red card like it’s okay. The referee’s red card decision, I didn’t know what the hell a red card was and when I found out I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’… I said, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of power’, it’s terrible. And then I looked at his past and it wasn’t that great.”
While Balogun was able to play, the USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium on Monday night, ending their World Cup run in the Round of 16.
Pakinomist Digital reached out to FIFA for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
