President Trump’s Balogun Interjection Subject of Official Complaint to FIFA - Sports Illustrated

What the report says

Sports Illustrated reported that the Norwegian Football Federation plans to file a formal complaint with FIFA over the decision to pause a one-match suspension for U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun. The dispute stems from Balogun’s red card for serious foul play after an incident involving Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović. SI said World Cup rules did not allow an appeal and that FIFA initially confirmed the ban, before a reversal enabled Balogun to play against Belgium in the round of 16.

According to SI, the case has drawn scrutiny because the change was allegedly influenced by contact from the White House and President Donald Trump. NFF president Lise Klaveness told The Times that outside political pressure and the lack of a normal process created serious concerns for the game’s governance. SI also reported that only one member of FIFA’s 18-person disciplinary committee was involved in the decision, adding to transparency concerns.

The matter is part of broader criticism of FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s relationship with Trump. SI noted that FairSquare, a nonprofit organization, filed an ethics complaint in December 2025 accusing Infantino of breaching political neutrality rules, including over FIFA’s decision to give Trump its first Peace Prize. The NFF later supported that complaint, and Klaveness now intends to add the Balogun suspension issue to the existing case.

SI also cited a New York Post report that Trump is interested in Infantino as a possible future U.N. secretary-general. That claim remains separate from the FIFA disciplinary issue, but it adds context to renewed questions about political influence and the independence of global soccer governance.