5 days ago
NEW YORK — Norwegian soccer officials plan to file a complaint formally protesting President Trump's phone call with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, which preceded the surprising reversal of U.S. star Folarin Balogun's suspension from World Cup play.
Balogun received a red card penalty for committing a hard foul against a Bosnia and Herzegovina player during a July 1 match in California. FIFA rules called for the striker from Brooklyn to be barred from participating in Team USA's next game against Belgium. But after Trump spoke to Infantino, with whom he has a friendly relationship, Balogun's suspension was not enforced.
Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) President Lise Klaveness told The Times of London its important that the international soccer community has an "honest" discussion over what transpired.
"We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process," she said. "We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error."
Even with Balogun on field, the U.S. was handily defeated by the Belgians. Belgium lost the following game to the Spanish team, which won the tournament. Norway was knocked out of the World Cup by England in a thrilling quarterfinals match.
#infantino #suspension
Balogun received a red card penalty for committing a hard foul against a Bosnia and Herzegovina player during a July 1 match in California. FIFA rules called for the striker from Brooklyn to be barred from participating in Team USA's next game against Belgium. But after Trump spoke to Infantino, with whom he has a friendly relationship, Balogun's suspension was not enforced.
Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) President Lise Klaveness told The Times of London its important that the international soccer community has an "honest" discussion over what transpired.
"We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process," she said. "We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error."
Even with Balogun on field, the U.S. was handily defeated by the Belgians. Belgium lost the following game to the Spanish team, which won the tournament. Norway was knocked out of the World Cup by England in a thrilling quarterfinals match.
#infantino #suspension
5 days ago
The Norwegian Football Federation is considering filing a formal complaint to Fifa's ethics committee about the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's automatic one-man ban during the World Cup.
United States forward Balogun was expected to miss his side's last-16 tie against Belgium after being shown a straight red card during their 2-0 win over Bosnia- Herzegovina.
But, after an intervention from US President Donald Trump, the one-match ban was suspended for 12 months. No reason was given, beyond citing a rule that allows punishments to be suspended.
Balogun started the match, which Belgium won 4-1.
In a statement provided to the BBC, NFF president Lise Klaveness said the federation had reacted with "strong concern" and a decision on whether or not to make a complaint would be made at its next board meeting.
#president #decision #Football
United States forward Balogun was expected to miss his side's last-16 tie against Belgium after being shown a straight red card during their 2-0 win over Bosnia- Herzegovina.
But, after an intervention from US President Donald Trump, the one-match ban was suspended for 12 months. No reason was given, beyond citing a rule that allows punishments to be suspended.
Balogun started the match, which Belgium won 4-1.
In a statement provided to the BBC, NFF president Lise Klaveness said the federation had reacted with "strong concern" and a decision on whether or not to make a complaint would be made at its next board meeting.
#president #decision #Football
5 days ago
Norway's football chief told The Times they are set to make a formal complaint to FIFA over the suspension of Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban because it has put "the whole game at risk".
Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), says she will seek the backing of her board at a meeting on August 6 to lodge the complaint with FIFA's ethics committee over an incident that "should not have happened".
Klaveness told AFP the intention is to "include the Balogun affair" in a complaint already filed by the NFF over FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarding football's governing body's inaugural Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump, which was widely ridiculed.
"I will bring it to a board meeting and discuss with my board, and then we do it," Klaveness told The Times in an interview published on Thursday.
"To me, it should be in the same sphere of ethical complaint."
#klaveness #Football
Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), says she will seek the backing of her board at a meeting on August 6 to lodge the complaint with FIFA's ethics committee over an incident that "should not have happened".
Klaveness told AFP the intention is to "include the Balogun affair" in a complaint already filed by the NFF over FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarding football's governing body's inaugural Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump, which was widely ridiculed.
"I will bring it to a board meeting and discuss with my board, and then we do it," Klaveness told The Times in an interview published on Thursday.
"To me, it should be in the same sphere of ethical complaint."
#klaveness #Football
