World Cup nation to submit official complaint about Donald Trump over 'serious' breach
This summer's FIFA World Cup left a bad taste in the mouth for a variety of reasons, but the sourest one was undoubtedly Donald Trump's meddling.
As the president of a co-host country, the United States (Canada and Mexico shared that honour), Trump thought nothing of sticking his oar in when his nation's star striker Folarin Balogun received a red card in their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Round of 32.
USA, who are managed by former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur guy Mauricio Pochettino, won that game 2-0, meaning Balogun would be suspended for the Round of 16 clash with Belgium.
In all fairness, the 25-year-old's sending off by referee Raphael Claus was extremely harsh, but sporting integrity must prevail and his punishment should've been final.
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Realising that the team's chances of beating Belgium were slim without Balogun, Trump personally dialled up FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino for a quiet word. It was then announced that Balogun's one-match ban would be suspended for a period of 12 months - breaking one of the central pillar's of footballing laws.
Now, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is retaliating, promising to submit a formal complaint over this unprecedented interference.
'We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error'
Per an interview with The Times, NFF president Lise Klaveness believes the decision to overturn Balogun's red was an 'error' of judgement.
"When you bend a rule like this, you're on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk. It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game," she said.
"We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process. We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error.
"When you make controversial decisions, and when there has been an external, very powerful voice in your ear, it's very important that you have more voices [making the decision].
"And if you don't, it's a mistake."
Klaveness, whose nation was knocked out of the tournament by England in the quarter-finals, went on: "This case was so serious and so worrying that I hope that it might contribute to bring people out a little bit and don't fear to bring up cases.
"I will bring it to a board meeting and discuss with my board, and then we do it. To me, it should be in the same sphere of ethical complaint."
What did Gianni Infantino say about the red card controversy?
Infantino himself was quick to dampen the heat surrounding Balogun's shelved suspension, claiming that Trump had nothing to do with it.
"FIFA's judicial bodies are independent," he commented.
"They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them.
"Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected."
Meanwhile, Trump revealed to the media that all he'd done during that fateful phonecall was ask for a 'review' of the situation.
"I'm good at this stuff," he shared. "I think they made a brilliant decision. I think the referee's call was horrible."
Topics: Sport, Donald Trump, World Cup, Football
Dan Seddon