Norwegians ask Infantino to admit Balogun’s return was a mistake, consider ethics appeal
July 23 – The Norwegian FA (NFF) is considering a formal ethical appeal against the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s World Cup ban. NFF President Lise Klaveness said this issue will not be swept under the carpet.
In an interview with The Times, the Norwegian football boss urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to admit it was a “mistake” to lift the ban. He said “we all know” the decision was under external pressure.
In the scandals that have long cast a shadow on the World Cup, American president Donald Trump called FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to demand a review of Balogun’s red card before he played against Belgium in the round of 16.
Trump confirmed the call and admitted that he did not understand what the red card was, but FIFA was obliged and the US striker was allowed to start against the Belgians.
“If you bend the law in this way, you are on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk. It is a concern in the game if you break the main rules of the game,” said Klaveness.
“First of all, it should not have happened. It is very important now that there is honest communication around you. We all know that this decision was influenced by external forces and there was no due process. We need our leader in FIFA to make this a mistake.”
FIFA and Infantino have maintained that their judicial bodies operate independently. Mohammed Al Kamali of the United Arab Emirates, chairman of the disciplinary committee, took the decision alone. FIFA’s top officials have towed the club’s line in ensuring Al Kamali has full decision-making powers.
Klaveness said: “When you start getting familiar with state leaders and state politics, you’re going to remove your own behavior and the behavior of the organization, and the red line of what state leaders should be interfering with. And that happened.”
He also asked why Al Kamali took the decision alone.
“If there is an external, very strong voice in your ear, it is very important that you have many voices that make a decision,” he said. “If you don’t, it’s a mistake.”
Klaveness emphasized that this case cannot be “swept under the carpet”.
“This case was very serious and very troubling, I hope that it may have an effect on getting people out a little bit and don’t be afraid to raise charges, I will bring it to the board meeting and we will discuss it with my board, and then we will do it.
Klaveness and the NFF have already joined FairSquare’s appeal to FIFA’s ethics committee regarding the FIFA Peace Prize that Infantino gave to Trump during the World Cup draw. The NGO alleges that Infantino has repeatedly breached his duty of neutrality enshrined in FIFA rules.
If Klaveness and the NFF can bring an ethical appeal then we can be joined by many other federations. FIFA officials have already breached the rules of lobbying national confederations seeking letters of support for Infantino’s re-election. Reports say that approximately 200 letters have been sent although the unions report that they were forced to send them out of fear of Infantino’s power over the grant money. National associations receive about $4 million a year from FIFA, which is for development programs that may rise when FIFA withholds funds.
See: Infantino uses FIFA staff to lobby MAs for his March 2027 presidential election
The debate on FIFA’s integrity began to emerge after the news that Balogun’s red card was a one-man decision
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