Norway Explores FIFA Ethics Complaint Over Trump's Red Card Influence

WHO:

AP - Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation, stated, "We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error."

AP - Klaveness emphasized that bending over for a head of state was a dangerous precedent.

AP - Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation, stated, "To try to sweep this under the carpet now will not fly."

AP - Klaveness emphasized that bending over for a head of state was a dangerous precedent.

AP - Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation, stated, "I won't allow this to be swept under the rug."

NBC Boston - U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson defended the White House's involvement, saying, "The president is able to do what the President wants to do."

Goal.com - Folarin Balogun admitted the decision to overturn his suspension created anxiety among the U.S. squad, noting, "A lot of outside noise, and that's hard to avoid."

AP - Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), stated she will seek the backing of her board to lodge the complaint with FIFA's ethics committee.

TribLIVE.com - U.S. President Donald Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness, Folarin Balogun, Belgium national team.

Daily Bulletin - Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), FairSquare (human rights NGO).

NBC Boston - U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson.

The Guardian - UEFA's executive committee member Lise Klaveness.

New York Daily News - FIFA's disciplinary committee chairman Mohammad al-Kamali.

WHAT:

AP - The Norwegian Football Federation plans to include the Balogun affair in a complaint already filed regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.

AP - The decision to lift Balogun's ban was made unilaterally by FIFA's disciplinary committee chairman, Mohammad al-Kamali, without consulting the other 17 committee members.

AP - The Norwegian Football Federation plans to include the Balogun affair in a complaint already filed regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.

AP - The decision to suspend Balogun's ban was taken solely by FIFA's disciplinary committee chairman, Mohammad al-Kamali, without consulting the other 17 committee members.

AP - Norway's soccer federation plans to file a formal complaint to FIFA ethics investigators regarding Trump's influence on Balogun's red card ruling.

NBC Boston - The decision to lift Balogun's ban was made unilaterally by FIFA's disciplinary committee chairman, Mohammad al-Kamali, without consulting the other 17 committee members.

AP - Klaveness emphasized that the decision to suspend Balogun's ban was taken unilaterally by FIFA's disciplinary committee chairman, Mohammad al-Kamali, without consulting the other 17 committee members.

AP - Klaveness stated, "I won't allow this to be swept under the rug."

TribLIVE.com - Norway's soccer federation plans to file a formal complaint to FIFA ethics investigators regarding Trump's influence on Balogun's red card ruling.

Daily Bulletin - Balogun's red card for a tackle against Bosnia-Herzegovina was initially set to result in a one-game ban, which was later deferred.

NBC Boston - Belgium defeated the U.S. 4-1 in the World Cup after Balogun's suspension was lifted.

The Guardian - Klaveness stated, “We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error.”

New York Daily News - Klaveness emphasized that the decision to lift Balogun's ban was unprecedented in the past 60 years at World Cups.

WHERE:

TribLIVE.com - The incident occurred during the World Cup, specifically in California for the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Daily Bulletin - The Norwegian soccer federation is based in Norway.

WHEN:

AP - The Norwegian Football Federation's board meeting to discuss the complaint is likely scheduled for August 6.

TribLIVE.com - The Norwegian soccer federation's board meeting to discuss the complaint is likely scheduled for August 6.

New York Daily News - Balogun received the red card during a match on July 1.

WHY:

AP - Klaveness stated, "It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game."

AP - Klaveness expressed that bending the rules in this manner compromises the integrity of the game, stating, "When you bend a rule in this manner, you put the entire game at risk."

AP - Klaveness stated, "It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game."

AP - Klaveness expressed concern that bending the rules could compromise the integrity of the game, stating, "It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game."

AP - Klaveness expressed that bending the rules in this manner compromises the integrity of the game, stating, "When you bend a rule in this manner, you put the entire game at risk."

TribLIVE.com - Klaveness expressed concern that bending the rules could compromise the integrity of the game, stating, “When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk.”

Daily Bulletin - The complaint is motivated by the belief that the decision was influenced by external forces and lacked proper process.

HOW:

AP - Klaveness indicated that the matter would be formally addressed at an upcoming board meeting, saying, "I will bring it to a board meeting and discuss with my board."

Goal.com - Balogun noted that the intense public scrutiny and external pressure proved difficult for the team to ignore, stating, "My initial reaction was I was happy to be back in the team, but when I kind of started to reflect, I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy."

AP - Klaveness indicated that the matter would be formally addressed at an upcoming board meeting, saying, "I will bring it up at a board meeting and discuss it with my board."

TribLIVE.com - Trump intervened by calling Infantino to request a review of Balogun's suspension.

Daily Bulletin - The decision to lift Balogun's ban was made unilaterally by FIFA's disciplinary committee chairman without consulting other committee members.

Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation, has called for FIFA's leadership to acknowledge an error regarding the recent decision to lift Balogun's ban, which was made unilaterally by FIFA's disciplinary committee chairman without consulting other members. Klaveness emphasized that bending the rules in this way compromises the integrity of the game and stated that the Norwegian Football Federation plans to include this issue in a complaint about FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize. The board meeting to discuss this complaint is likely scheduled for August 6, where Klaveness intends to formally address the matter with her board.