Norway FA chief to file ethics complaint, says FIFA's Infantino must admit Folarin Balogun 'error'
Norway FA to Consider Ethics Complaint
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is considering filing a formal complaint with FIFA‘s ethics committee regarding the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun‘s automatic one-match ban during the World Cup. The NFF board of directors is expected to discuss the complaint at its next meeting, which is likely to occur on August 6.
Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian federation, stated that the NFF reacted with “strong concern” to the situation. She emphasized the need for FIFA’s leadership to acknowledge the decision as an error. Klaveness, a lawyer and judge, has positioned the Norwegian federation as a voice for ethical conduct in global soccer since her election in 2022.
The complaint would address the circumstances surrounding Balogun, a United States forward, who was initially expected to miss his team’s last-16 match against Belgium. This expectation followed his straight red card during their 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, the one-match ban was suspended after an intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Balogun subsequently started in the match against Belgium, which Belgium won 4-1. The decision to suspend the ban cited a rule allowing punishments to be deferred, though no specific reason was publicly provided. The Royal Belgian Football Federation expressed deep concern over the events and stated its intention to defend the principles of ethics and fair competition.
Intervention and Reactions
President Trump confirmed that he spoke with Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, regarding the red card. Trump described the referee’s decision as “horrible” and indicated he requested a review of the call. He later stated that FIFA made a “great decision” by allowing Balogun to play. Infantino has maintained that FIFA’s judicial bodies operate independently.
Klaveness commented on the FIFA ruling, stating that it was unprecedented in the past 60 years of World Cups. She suggested that the verdict was influenced by external forces and did not follow proper process. She warned that bending such rules could put the entire game at risk.
The NFF had previously filed a complaint with the FIFA ethics committee concerning FIFA’s first Peace Prize being awarded to President Trump. Klaveness indicated that the Balogun case is appropriate to include in this ongoing inquiry. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), where Infantino is an elected member since 2020, could also investigate the matter. Section two of the Olympic charter mandates that IOC members not accept mandates or instructions that interfere with their freedom of action and vote.
UEFA, European football‘s governing body, described FIFA’s actions as having “crossed a red line” and characterized the decision as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” FIFA ruled Belgium’s request for an explanation of Balogun’s suspended red card as “inadmissible,” meaning it had no grounds for appeal.
Ethics and Independence Concerns
The independence of FIFA’s process for handling ethics complaints has faced scrutiny. This questioning arose after the lead investigator and judge were both replaced in 2017, during the second year of Infantino’s presidency. FIFA has not yet published documents explaining how its disciplinary judges reached their verdicts regarding Balogun or other World Cup players.
The NFF’s potential complaint highlights a broader concern about compromising fundamental rules of the game. An International Olympic Committee statement indicated that complaints to its ethics commission are confidential and that it would only communicate sanctions if the commission decided to impose them. The NFF’s board meeting on August 6 will determine whether the formal complaint proceeds.
Source: tsn.ca
