Trump role in World Cup red-card ruling for Balogun pushes Norway toward FIFA ethics complaint

GENEVA (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s role in clearing Folarin Balogun from a mandatory one-game ban at the World Cup is set to provoke a formal complaint to FIFA ethics investigators.

The Norway soccer federation said Thursday its board of directors will consider filing the complaint at its next meeting, likely on Aug. 6.

“We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error,” Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness told London daily The Times in an interview published Thursday.

After Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a one-game ban for Balogun’s red-card tackle against Bosnia-Herzegovina was deferred so he could play against Belgium with a quarterfinals place at stake.

Belgium beat the U.S. 4-1 after a chaotic 36 hours at the World Cup. The Belgium players were seemingly fired up by one of the all-time controversies in tournament history.

Trump called the referee’s red card for Balogun after video review a “horrible” call and took credit for getting FIFA to review what should routinely have been a one-game ban.

“We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process,” Klaveness told The Times of the FIFA ruling that was unprecedented in the past 60 years at World Cups.

“When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,” said the former Women’s World Cup player for Norway, who is an elected member of European soccer body UEFA’s executive committee.

Klaveness is a lawyer and judge who has positioned the Norwegian federation as a conscience in world soccer since her election in 2022.

“It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game,” she said Thursday about not enforcing Balogun's ban.

Norway previously joined a London-based NGO’s complaint to the FIFA ethics committee alleging Infantino breached a statutory duty of political neutrality, including by creating a peace prize to award to Trump at the World Cup draw in December.

The close personal and political ties between Trump and Infantino include the U.S. president believing the soccer official could be a good pick as next secretary general of the United Nations, the New York Post reported this week.

The human rights NGO, FairSquare, also has filed an ethics complaint about the Balogun incident to the International Olympic Committee, where Infantino is an elected member, about breaching its rules on political neutrality.

FIFA and the IOC rarely acknowledge or provide updates on potential cases before their ethics bodies.

The independence of FIFA’s process to handle complaints alleging unethical conduct has been questioned since the lead investigator and judge both were replaced in 2017, in the second year of Infantino’s presidency.

FIFA has yet to publish documents explaining how its disciplinary judges reached verdicts about Balogun or other World Cup players.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and AP World Cup coverage

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, and President Donald J. Trump talk as they wait to congratulate the Spanish players after the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City officially completed the signing of England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest on Thursday for a reported 116 million pounds ($155 million).

The club record fee for City eclipses the 100 million pounds ($139 million) it paid for Jack Grealish in 2021 and is among the biggest ever in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old Anderson has signed a five-year contract.

“City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the squad they have is amazing — so strong in every position. As soon as I knew they wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen," Anderson said. “As a footballer, you want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity."

Anderson is the first major signing by City since iconic manager Pep Guardiola stepped down at the end of last season. A new era is beginning under former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

“Elliot is one of the outstanding young midfield talents in world football right now. He offers energy, outstanding work rate and an exceptional range of passing," said City director of football Hugo Viana. "His improvement in recent years has been really impressive and underlines his desire to be the best player he can be.

“At just 23, there is plenty of opportunity for development over the coming years and we feel he can become a complete midfielder. Manchester City is the best place for him to develop his game and keep improving, we are glad that he sees things the same way as we do."

Anderson began his career at Newcastle and joined Forest in 2024 where he went on to break into the England squad.

He was a key member of Thomas Tuchel's England squad that won bronze at the World Cup.

“As soon as I arrive in Manchester after a break, I will be doing everything I can to establish myself in the City team," he said. “It’s a club built to win trophies and compete at the very top of the game. That is exciting for any footballer."

England forward Morgan Rogers completed a move to Chelsea earlier this week for a reported British transfer record of 117 million pounds.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

England's Ezri Konsa (2), England's Elliot Anderson (8) and England's Ivan Toney (22) are dejected at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

England's Elliot Anderson arrives for the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)