World Cup nation to launch formal complaint over Donald Trump intervention

The Norwegian FA intends to make a formal complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee over Donald Trump’s intervention in Folarin Balogun’s ban.

USA striker Balogun was handed a one-match ban after being sent off in his side’s World Cup last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina – only for the ban to be suspended after Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, sparking widespread outrage.

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Trump subsequently thanked FIFA for “reversing a great injustice” in his eyes.

As such Balogun was able to feature, in the last 16 against Belgium, although the USA crashed out of their home tournament with a 4-1 defeat – after which Belgium players celebrated by mocking Trump’s dance moves.

Speaking after that game, Balogun admitted the circumstances leading to his clearance to play were less than ideal.

“It was just an unfortunate situation,” he said, “and I think it put a lot more pressure on us than we needed.”

Subject to board backing, Norway are set to add their opposition to Trump’s interference to an earlier complaint about FIFA’s controversial decision to award the US president its inaugural Peace Prize – alleging it breached rules on political neutrality.

‘A slippery slope’

In an interview with The Times, Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness said of the Balogun situation: “When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk. It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game.

“First of all, it should not have happened. It is very important now to have honest communication around it. We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process.

“We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error.

“If you start to adapt in such a way towards state leaders and state politics, you will move your behaviour and the organisation’s behaviour, and also the red line of what states’ leaders should interfere with. And that happened.

“When you make controversial decisions, and when there has been an external, very powerful voice in your ear, it’s very important that you have more voices [making the decision]. And if you don’t, it’s a mistake.

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“This case was so serious and so worrying that I hope that it might contribute to bring people out a little bit and don’t fear to bring up cases. I will bring it to a board meeting and discuss with my board, and then we do it. To me, it should be in the same sphere of ethical complaint.

“To try to sweep this under the carpet now will not fly.

“Too many felt this … coaches, players, fans … that this was too close to the game.”

Norway’s memorable World Cup return

Norway knocked out five-time world champions Brazil to reach the quarter-finals of their first World Cup since 1998, narrowly losing 2-1 to England in extra time having taken the lead in the first half of normal time.

And Klaveness, who represented Norway at two Women’s World Cups, felt the Vikings were unfortunate to lose to the Three Lions.

“I do think we played a better game,” she said. “I do think we deserved to win. That said, we were perhaps lucky against the Ivory Coast [in the last 32] – they played really well against us.”