Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness announced plans to request a formal ethics complaint regarding FIFA's decision to suspend USMNT player Folarin Balogun's red card ban. Klaveness stated that FIFA should recognize the suspension as an error, emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity in the sport. She expressed concern that external influences may have affected the decision-making process, stating, "When you bend a rule like this, you're on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk." Klaveness described the situation as serious and worrying, indicating that she would bring the matter to her board for further discussion.
The controversy arose after President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, requesting a review of the red card decision. Trump argued that the incident did not warrant a foul and expressed concern over the potential impact on the game. He stated, "I think the referee’s call was horrible," and criticized the initial red card assessment. Despite Balogun's participation, the USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium, concluding their World Cup journey in the Round of 16. FIFA has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the situation.