FIFA defends Balogun red card referee after Trump calls him ‘a bit suspect’

play Live Sign upShow navigation menu.css-15ru6p1{font-size:inherit;font-weight:normal;}Navigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificWorld CupMiddle EastExplainedOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomySportHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftWorld Cup 2026World Cup Day 26Round of 16 match scheduleResults and FixturesGoals and reactioncaret-rightSport|World Cup 2026FIFA defends Balogun red card referee after Trump calls him ‘a bit suspect’Raphael Claus is ‘one of the world’s leading professional referees’, FIFA says, following Trump’s comments. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoFIFA referee Raphael Claus officiated in the USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina match [Francois Nel/Getty Images via AFP]By ReutersPublished On 7 Jul 20267 Jul 2026FIFA has thrown its full support behind Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after ⁠⁠United States President Donald ⁠⁠Trump questioned his integrity following the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun, which sparked a ⁠⁠controversy at the World Cup. Balogun was sent off by Claus after a VAR check in the last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina for planting ⁠⁠his boot into the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic. However, FIFA later suspended Balogun’s red-card ban. Trump said on Monday that he had asked for the decision to be reviewed, describing Claus as “a little bit suspect if you check his past”, without elaborating. “FIFA ‌‌recognises Raphael Claus as one of the world’s leading professional referees and a valued member of Team One – FIFA’s elite group of referees – at the FIFA World Cup,” FIFA said in a statement. “Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.” FIFA said Claus was not available for comment, in line with its policy of ⁠⁠referees not speaking to the media during the tournament. ⁠⁠FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that referees must be respected. “Once more, I reiterate that we must respect the referees and respect the rules that govern our game,” he said. “It is very ⁠⁠simple and cannot ever be overstated – without referees, there is no football.” Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s ⁠⁠chief refereeing officer and the chairman of the Referees Committee, emphasised the organisation’s faith in the 46-year-old Claus, who has officiated in more than 600 matches in his career. “Raphael Claus is refereeing at his second FIFA World Cup, having been with us in Qatar ‌‌in 2022,” Collina said. “He is an experienced and highly respected referee, and we maintain full confidence in him as a trusted match official.” Balogun was ‌‌eventually ‌‌allowed to start Monday’s last-16 clash with Belgium and was named in the starting lineup by coach Mauricio Pochettino. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: