NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The World Cup may be over, but some are still unhappy with the controversy surrounding the suspension of USMNT star Folarin Balogun’s red card ban.
The president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), Lise Klaveness, said she would ask her board to file a formal ethics complaint over the incident. She called on FIFA to recognize the decision to suspend Balogun’s ban as a mistake.
“We need our FIFA leader to say it was a mistake,” Klaveness told the Times. “If you start adapting in this way to state leadership and state policy, you will change your behavior and the behavior of the organization and the red line on which state leadership should interfere. And that’s what happened.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Lisa Klaveness, President of the Norwegian Football Federation, attends the European Football Women’s Gala 2023 at Antiga Fabrica D’Estrella Damm in Barcelona, Spain, November 6, 2023. (Cesc Maymo/WireImage)
Klaveness claimed the proper process was not followed and that failure to follow the rules could put the entire game at risk.
“First of all, this should not have happened. It is very important now to have honest communication about this. We all know that this verdict was influenced by outside forces and did not follow the proper process,” Klaveness said. “When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the entire game at risk. It’s a worry for the game when you compromise the fundamental rules of the game.”
Klaveness described the case of FIFA’s suspension of Balogun’s red card ban as “serious” and “worrying”.
“This case was so serious and so concerning that I hope it helps get people out a little bit and not afraid to bring cases up,” she said. “I’m going to bring it to a board meeting and discuss it with my board, and then we’ll do it. To me, it should fall under the same area of ethics complaint.”
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on before presenting the FIFA World Cup Winners’ Trophy to Spain after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final 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 has 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 match against Belgium on Monday, but FIFA decided to suspend the one-match ban after Trump’s call.
Trump addressed the controversy earlier this month.
“All I did was ask for a review, because I didn’t think it was wrong,” the president said. “And again, I’m good at that kind of thing. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes crashing and getting tangled. It wasn’t a guy hitting someone in the face or anything that would be different.
“I think it’s terrible…if they hadn’t allowed a top player, maybe the best, maybe one of the best on the team, to play, I think it would have had a big stain. a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players.”
Trump said he disagreed with the initial red card that was given to Balogun in the first place.
“If you had eliminated him, I think it would have really tainted this incredible championship,” Trump continued. “We have to have our best players and Belgium, Belgium have a great team by the way. We have our best players and they have to do their best. If we win or lose, it’s fair. Otherwise, let’s say we lost to them, then we lost the match. That would be a terrible thing. I think they made a really brilliant decision.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
Folarin Balogun (20) of the United States leaves the field after losing to Belgium during their 16 World Cup soccer match in Seattle, Washington. Monday July 6, 2026. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)
“I think the referee’s decision was horrible and no one talks about it. They talk about the red card like everything was fine. The referee’s decision to give a red card, I didn’t know what a red card was and when I found out I said, ‘You’re kidding.’… I said, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of power, that’s terrible.’ And then I looked at his past and it wasn’t so great.”
With Balogun able to play, the USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium on Monday night, ending its World Cup run in the round of 16.
PK Press Club Digital reached out to FIFA for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
