Norway puts Infantino’s FIFA leadership on trial
Norway’s football federation is considering an ethics complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over Donald Trump’s intervention in the Folarin Balogun suspension case, intensifying pressure on the governing body’s disciplinary independence.
The Norwegian Football Federation is considering a formal FIFA ethics complaint over the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s World Cup ban following an intervention by US president Donald Trump.Its board is expected to discuss the complaint on August 6, extending scrutiny of FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s relationship with Trump beyond the tournament and into the governing body’s internal ethics system.Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness said: “We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error.”Balogun was shown a red card in the United States’ last-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would ordinarily have triggered a mandatory one-match suspension.Trump subsequently contacted Infantino and publicly criticised the decision before FIFA’s disciplinary committee deferred the ban, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium in the last 16.Klaveness said: “We all know that this verdict was influenced by external forces and did not have the proper process.“When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk.”FIFA maintained that its disciplinary committee reached the decision independently, based on the applicable regulations and the specific circumstances of the case.The governing body has not published detailed documents explaining the ruling, leaving questions over the process, the legal basis for the suspension and the extent of Infantino’s involvement.Belgium beat the United States 4-1, limiting the sporting consequences of Balogun’s availability, but the case has continued to create governance and integrity concerns.Norway’s intervention is significant because Klaveness is also a member of UEFA’s executive committee and has become one of the most prominent critics of FIFA’s leadership model.The Norwegian federation previously supported an ethics complaint alleging that Infantino had breached FIFA’s political neutrality requirements through his relationship with Trump.That complaint included criticism of FIFA’s decision to create and award a peace prize to the US president during the World Cup draw.Norway’s latest move adds to pressure generated by the Group of Copenhagen, which has requested a written explanation from FIFA about the Balogun case.The international integrity network raised concerns after a prediction market opened on whether Balogun would face Belgium three days before FIFA publicly confirmed that his ban had been deferred.No similar market was identified for the other 14 players sent off during the tournament, none of whom had their suspensions postponed.The sequence has increased concerns about confidential information, political influence and whether FIFA’s disciplinary structures are sufficiently protected from its senior leadership.Klaveness said compromising fundamental playing rules created a risk for the entire sport rather than a dispute confined to one player or match.A formal complaint would direct those questions towards FIFA’s ethics investigators, although the governing body rarely provides public updates on active proceedings.Norway’s board decision on August 6 will determine whether Infantino faces another formal challenge over a controversy that has continued to grow since the World Cup ended.