The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is considering lodging a formal complaint with FIFA's ethics committee following the controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's automatic one-match ban during the recent World Cup. The US international forward was initially expected to miss the last-16 tie against Belgium after receiving a straight red card in his side's 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, a subsequent intervention from US President Donald Trump led to the ban being suspended for 12 months, with FIFA citing an unspecified rule allowing such punishments to be put on hold.
Balogun subsequently started the match against Belgium, which his team lost 4-1. NFF president Lise Klaveness expressed "strong concern" regarding the decision in a statement provided to the BBC, confirming that the federation's board would decide whether to proceed with a complaint at its next meeting. This potential complaint would build upon a previous one filed by the NFF concerning FIFA's decision to award its inaugural Peace Prize to President Trump ahead of the World Cup draw in Washington last Christmas.
The controversy extends beyond the NFF, with reports suggesting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) could also launch an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Infantino has been an IOC member since 2020, and Section two of the Olympic charter stipulates that IOC members must not accept "any mandate or instructions liable to interfere with the freedom of their action and vote" from governments or other parties. The IOC has stated that complaints to its ethics commission are confidential and that it would only announce sanctions if imposed.
The decision to allow Balogun to play came after a phone call between President Trump and Infantino. At a press conference in the Oval Office on 6 July, President Trump stated, "I spoke to Gianni... I asked for a review by Fifa. I spoke to a man who is highly respected. I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul. I didn't tell him what to do, I can't tell him what to do." Infantino has consistently maintained that FIFA's judicial bodies operate independently.
The Royal Belgian Football Federation also voiced its "deep concern by the course of events" and pledged to "fight... in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole." However, FIFA deemed Belgium's request for an explanation of Balogun's suspended red card "inadmissible," effectively blocking any appeal. UEFA, European football's governing body, sharply criticised FIFA's actions, describing them as having "crossed a red line" and labelling the decision as "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable."