FIFA defends Balogun red card referee after Trump calls him ‘a bit suspect’

Raphael Claus is ‘one of the world’s starring nonrecreational referees’, FIFA says, pursuing Trump’s comments.

FIFA has thrown its afloat enactment down Brazilian referee Raphael Claus aft ⁠⁠United States President Donald ⁠⁠Trump questioned his integrity pursuing the reddish paper shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun, which sparked a ⁠⁠controversy astatine the World Cup.

Balogun was sent disconnected by Claus aft a VAR cheque successful the last-32 triumph implicit Bosnia and Herzegovina for planting ⁠⁠his footwear into the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic. However, FIFA aboriginal suspended Balogun’s red-card ban.

Trump said connected Monday that helium had asked for the determination to beryllium reviewed, describing Claus arsenic “a small spot fishy if you cheque his past”, without elaborating.

“FIFA ‌‌recognises Raphael Claus arsenic 1 of the world’s starring nonrecreational referees and a valued subordinate of Team One – FIFA’s elite radical of referees – astatine the FIFA World Cup,” FIFA said successful a statement.

“Throughout his career, helium has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.”

FIFA said Claus was not disposable for comment, successful enactment with its argumentation of ⁠⁠referees not speaking to the media during the tournament. ⁠⁠FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that referees indispensable beryllium respected.

“Once more, I reiterate that we indispensable respect the referees and respect the rules that govern our game,” helium said.

“It is precise ⁠⁠simple and cannot ever beryllium overstated – without referees, determination is nary football.”

Referee Raphael Claus showed USA’s Folarin Balogun a reddish paper for a foul connected Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina [Michael Steele/Getty Images via AFP]

Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s ⁠⁠chief refereeing serviceman and the president of the Referees Committee, emphasised the organisation’s religion successful the 46-year-old Claus, who has officiated successful much than 600 matches successful his career.

“Raphael Claus is refereeing astatine his 2nd FIFA World Cup, having been with america successful Qatar ‌‌in 2022,” Collina said.

“He is an experienced and highly respected referee, and we support afloat assurance successful him arsenic a trusted lucifer official.”

Balogun was ‌‌eventually ‌‌allowed to commencement Monday’s last-16 clash with Belgium and was named successful the starting lineup by manager Mauricio Pochettino.