Norway to file a complaint with FIFA regarding the suspension of Ballong's penalty

London (AFP) – The Norwegian Football Federation is preparing to file an official complaint with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) regarding the suspension of the ban imposed on American player Folarin Balogun for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Lise Klev, president of the Norwegian Football Federation, told Britain’s The Times that she will seek the support of its board of directors to lodge the complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee over an incident that “should not have happened” and which has put “the entire game at risk.”

The Norwegian Football Federation had previously filed an official complaint after FIFA president, Swiss Gianni Infantino, awarded the newly created FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump, a move that drew widespread mockery.

Klev said: “I will bring the matter to a board meeting and discuss it with its members, and then we will proceed.”

It was Trump’s intervention in the Balogun case that sparked controversy. Klev commented: “When you bend the rules in this way, you are walking a slippery path that puts the entire game at risk.”

She considered yielding to the wishes of a head of state to set a dangerous precedent. She also expressed her displeasure with the decision to suspend the ban.

Klev, who emphasized that she is not a candidate to challenge Infantino in next year’s presidential elections, also sharply criticized the proposal put forward by South America to increase the number of teams in the World Cup from 48 to 64.