The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is preparing a formal complaint to FIFA over what it describes as the politically motivated reversal of Folarin Balogun's red card suspension at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Balogun was dismissed during the United States' last-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, a sending-off that should have resulted in an automatic one-match ban — ruling him out of the subsequent round-of-16 clash against Belgium.

FIFA, however, suspended the ban for 12 months after U.S. President Donald Trump made a direct phone call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino demanding the decision be reviewed. The ban was lifted, and Balogun played against Belgium.

Klaveness: 'A slippery slope for the entire game'

NFF president Lise Klaveness did not hold back in her criticism, calling on FIFA to openly acknowledge it had made a serious mistake. She argued that allowing a head of state to alter a sporting sanction sets a perilous precedent for football at every level.