Norway's football federation plans to lodge a formal complaint to FIFA over the controversial suspension of Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban. According to NFF president Lise Klaveness, the decision threatens to put "the whole game at risk."
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Subscribe Sekarang →Balogun received a red card in the USA's last-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an automatic suspension for their clash against Belgium. However, FIFA intervened and suspended the punishment after US President Donald Trump personally phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Klaveness stated that bending fundamental rules to appease heads of state sets a dangerous precedent for international sport. She noted that compromising basic disciplinary rules undermines the integrity of football worldwide.
Based on reports from The Times, the decision was made solely by Mohammad al-Kamali, chairman of FIFA's Disciplinary Committee, without consulting other board members. Klaveness argued that taking such controversial action without collective input was a grave mistake.
Norway enjoyed a strong tournament run, reaching the quarterfinals before falling to England. Beyond the disciplinary row, Klaveness also voiced strong opposition to proposals expanding future World Cup tournaments from 48 to 64 teams.