Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president, Lise Klaveness said she will ask her board to pursue a formal ethics complaint over FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s automatic World Cup ban, arguing the ruling was influenced by external political pressure.
Speaking to The Times, Klaveness urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to admit the decision was an “error,” claiming “we all know” the verdict was swayed by outside forces after US President, Donald Trump publicly said he had asked Infantino to review Balogun’s red card.
Balogun was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina but remained eligible for the United States’ round-of-16 victory over Belgium after FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended his mandatory one-match suspension. Trump later praised FIFA for making what he called a “great decision,” while Infantino has insisted FIFA’s judicial bodies act independently.
Klaveness warned that altering disciplinary rules under political influence, threatens football’s integrity, saying such actions create a “slippery slope” that risks compromising the game’s fundamental principles.
She also questioned why the controversial decision was reportedly made by a single member of FIFA’s disciplinary committee rather than a broader panel, arguing that important cases should involve multiple decision-makers, particularly when external pressure is alleged.
Klaveness said she intends to raise the matter at the NFF’s next board meeting and push for it to be included alongside an existing ethics complaint concerning FIFA’s Peace Prize awarded to Trump.
Her remarks come after a separate complaint alleging Infantino breached political neutrality rules in his dealings with Trump was submitted to the International Olympic Committee. FIFA has yet to respond publicly to Klaveness’ latest comments.
Oluwagbemisola Babalola
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