Norway FA to file formal complaint against FIFA over Folarin Balogun red card U-turn

Norwegian Football Association president Lise Klaveness says her organisation will lodge a formal complaint with FIFA over the decision to overturn a suspension for United States forward Folarin Balogun following alleged intervention from former US president Donald Trump.

Klaveness confirmed on Thursday that the Norwegian FA will escalate the matter, after claiming Trump phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the most recent World Cup – co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada – to ask for Balogun’s ban to be cancelled.

Balogun had been handed a suspension after receiving a red card in one of the tournament matches. According to Klaveness, FIFA subsequently lifted the ban, allowing the striker to return earlier than expected.

Infantino has denied that Trump’s call played any part in the governing body’s decision, insisting there was no connection between the conversation and the disciplinary outcome.

However, Klaveness argues the sequence of events has raised serious questions about governance and transparency at FIFA.

In an interview with The Times, she accused FIFA officials of trying to “cover up” the incident and called on Infantino to concede that the decision to remove Balogun’s suspension was wrong.

Klaveness said the controversy overshadowed much of the latter stages of the tournament, even though most analysts felt the original sending-off of Balogun had been harsh.

Dispute over FIFA transparency

Klaveness, a former Norway international and now one of European football’s most prominent administrators, has become known for her frequent criticism of FIFA and its leadership.

She has repeatedly challenged the organisation on issues of ethics, human rights and decision-making, and has often been a dissenting voice from within European football on how the global body is run.

In this case, she maintains that FIFA failed to be open about how the disciplinary process around Balogun was handled, and she believes the governing body has a responsibility to clarify whether any political pressure was exerted.

Her planned complaint is expected to centre on whether standard disciplinary procedures were followed, why the red-card suspension was lifted, and what role – if any – external actors played in influencing the decision.

Infantino under scrutiny

Infantino, who has strong support in many regions outside Europe, has consolidated his position within FIFA in recent years, not least through his backing of an expanded 48-team men’s World Cup.

That reform, popular among many national associations who see it as increasing their chances of qualification and revenue, has bolstered his prospects of securing another term as FIFA president at next year’s election.

Klaveness’s latest intervention adds to ongoing tensions between parts of European football and FIFA’s leadership, particularly around governance standards and the balance of power within the global game.

While the Norwegian FA’s complaint will not alter the outcome of Balogun’s case retroactively, it aims to trigger a formal examination of how and why the suspension was overturned during the tournament.

The dispute now sets up a potential confrontation between one of FIFA’s most outspoken national associations and the organisation’s hierarchy, with Klaveness pressing for public acknowledgement from Infantino that, in her view, FIFA’s handling of the Balogun red card and its aftermath was a mistake.