️ Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness has announced plans to file a formal complaint with FIFA's Ethics Committee over the controversial suspension of Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban, calling the decision a threat to the integrity of the game.

️ In an interview with The Times, Klaveness stated she would seek board approval to lodge the complaint, arguing that the incident "should not have happened" and was influenced by external forces.

️ The NFF previously filed a complaint over FIFA president Gianni Infantino's decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump, a move widely ridiculed. Klaveness sees both cases as similar ethical breaches.

️ Balogun received a red card in the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which should have resulted in an automatic suspension for the subsequent game against Belgium. However, FIFA intervened and suspended the ban, sparking outrage, especially after it emerged that Trump had personally called Infantino.

️ "When you bend a rule like this, you're on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk," Klaveness said. She emphasized that the decision lacked proper process and was unduly influenced by a head of state.

️ Klaveness also criticized FIFA Disciplinary Committee chairman Mohammad al-Kamali for making the decision unilaterally without consulting other members. She warned that attempts to "sweep this under the carpet" would fail.

️ The NFF president also voiced opposition to South America's proposal to expand the World Cup finals from 48 to 64 teams, arguing it would harm domestic leagues and create distrust.

Source: www.aljazeera.com