Norway Files Complaint Against Trump's Interference in "Balogun" Case

The chorus of discontent continues to grow. Even after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, certain actions and decisions by FIFA are still sparking debate. A prime example is the "Balogun affair" and the overturning of the American striker's red card following intervention from the White House. To put an end to such political interference in sports, several federations have decided to take action.

While Belgium, the USA's opponent in the Round of 16 and the primary victim of this decision, announced it "will continue to monitor the case with FIFA off the field," the Norwegian Football Federation also intends to file a complaint with the world football body's ethics committee.

In an interview with The Times, President Lise Klaveness, who had previously lodged a complaint regarding the awarding of FIFA's Peace Prize to Donald Trump, stated that FIFA is heading down a "dangerous path that will jeopardize all of football."

"We need our leaders to acknowledge that this was a mistake," she continued. "If we start to accommodate state leaders and national politics in this way, we are not only changing our own behavior and that of the organization, but also the red line beyond which heads of state should not interfere. And that's exactly what happened."

"Disappointed, but not necessarily surprised" by the decision, the Norwegian federation president wants to prevent the case from being "swept under the rug." "Too many people – coaches, players, and fans – felt that this directly impacted the game," she lamented.

During the World Cup, the Swiss federation also expressed solidarity with Belgium, calling the decision "incomprehensible" and one that "raises questions and creates uncertainty, especially regarding the authority of refereeing decisions, particularly when the Video Assistant Referee intervenes."

For its part, UEFA stated that its international counterpart had crossed a "red line."