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FIFA defends Balogun red card referee after Trump calls him ‘a bit suspect’
Al Jazeera • • nation
Key Points:
- FIFA has expressed full support for Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after U.S. President Donald Trump questioned his integrity following a red card shown to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun in the World Cup.
- Claus issued the red card to Balogun for a dangerous tackle during the last-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but FIFA later suspended Balogun’s red-card ban.
- Trump called Claus "a little bit suspect" based on his past, though he did not provide specific details; FIFA strongly defended Claus, highlighting his professionalism and integrity.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino emphasized the importance of respecting referees and the rules of football, stating that the game cannot exist without referees.
- Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s chief refereeing officer, reaffirmed confidence in Claus, noting his extensive experience and participation in two FIFA World Cups; Balogun was allowed to play in the subsequent last-16 match against Belgium.
