FIFA Defends Referee After Trump Calls Him Suspect

A FIFA referee has been defended by the sport's global governing body after his integrity was questioned by U.S. President Donald Trump. The controversy stems from a red card issued by Brazilian official Raphael Claus to American forward Folarin Balogun during the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup Round of 32 last week.

FIFA initially suspended Balogun for one match, which would have kept him out of the United States' Round of 16 match against Belgium. However, the suspension was overturned on Sunday following a personal intervention from President Trump. Trump confirmed he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review, calling Claus's decision to send off Balogun "horrible" and describing the referee as "a little bit suspect." He suggested a review of Claus's past would support that view.

In response, FIFA issued a statement on Tuesday expressing full confidence in Claus, whom it recognized as "one of the world’s leading professional referees." Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of FIFA's Referee Committee, added that Claus is an experienced and highly respected official who is refereeing at his second World Cup.