FIFA defends referee Claus after Trump calls him 'suspect' at World Cup

FIFA has publicly defended referee Raphael Claus after Donald Trump cast doubt on the official’s integrity, describing him as “a little bit suspect if you check his past” without providing any evidence or further explanation.

The dispute stems from Claus’s decision to send off United States forward Folarin Balogun during the USA’s group-stage victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 World Cup. Balogun initially received a one-match ban for the dismissal, which was suspended for a year — allowing him to start the round of 16 tie against Belgium. Trump then phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to urge a review of the red card, and within days FIFA lifted the suspension entirely.

Both Trump and Infantino insisted the reversal was the work of an independent disciplinary panel rather than the result of presidential pressure. It was while publicly explaining his role in the episode that Trump turned his attention to Claus, making the unsubstantiated “suspect” remark.

FIFA moved swiftly to counter the characterisation. In an official statement, the governing body wrote: “FIFA recognises Raphael Claus as one of the world’s leading professional referees and a valued member of Team One — FIFA’s elite group of referees — at the FIFA World Cup. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.”

Infantino added his own rebuke of the broader climate surrounding match officials. “Once more, I reiterate that we must respect the referees and respect the rules that govern our game,” the FIFA president said. “It is very simple and cannot ever be overstated — without referees, there is no football.”

The episode places FIFA in the unusual position of publicly contradicting the head of state of the tournament’s co-host nation, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico jointly staging the 2026 World Cup.