World Cup referee declared ‘suspicious’ by Trump – Sports News
Andrew Giuliani has launched an assault on the referee (Image: Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)
A Donald Trump administration official has renewed his assault on World Cup referee Raphael Claus following the controversial pink card issued to USA striker Folarin Balogun.
Andrew Giuliani, who serves underneath Trump because the Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alleged that Claus – who officiated the USMNT‘s Round of 32 conflict towards Bosnia and Herzegovina – had been linked to a match-fixing investigation after handing Balogun a disputed pink card.
When pressed on the declare during a Washington, D.C. briefing on Wednesday, Giuliani walked back his authentic remarks.
“He was not accused of crimes, we understand that,” Giuliani mentioned.
“What I’m telling you is that he was akin to a match fixing investigation a few years ago, in Brazil, where they were giving out, I quote, irregular red cards. So that’s the facts of it. He was akin to that investigation.”
Folarin Balogun had acquired a pink card (Image: Luke Hales, Getty Images)
Giuliani, the 40-year-old son of former New York City mayor Rudy, had beforehand steered the pink card may “potentially be a fraudulent way that things are administered on the pitch.”
His feedback appeared to reference a 2024 Brazilian match-fixing scandal, during which American businessman and soccer membership proprietor John Textor leveled accusations towards referees after his membership, Botafogo, was overtaken within the league title race during the ultimate stretch of the season.
The matter was introduced earlier than the Brazilian Senate, nevertheless Claus, a Brazilian native, was by no means formally accused of match-fixing nor referred to as upon to testify.
Brazilian referee Raphael Claus during the FIFA World Cup (Image: Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
The Brazilian soccer federation and FIFA have defended Claus, stating he has “consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.”
The scrutiny of Claus follows widespread criticism of Balogun’s pink card from followers and even Trump, who contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to specific his issues concerning the ruling.
Subsequently, FIFA’s unbiased disciplinary board ruled that Balogun’s one-match ban could be frozen, permitting him to compete within the Round of 16 towards Belgium.
Balogun’s participation finally made no distinction because the USMNT suffered a 4-1 defeat and exited the World Cup. Despite the American squad’s elimination from the competitors, Giuliani continues to problem the Brazilian referee.
“When you add irregular red cards … along with how the VAR, FIFA World Cup referees should know that you cannot apply the VAR in a manner that he did in the 64th [minute] against Balogun,” Giuliani mentioned. “He should know that. That’s as obvious as it gets.
“Your coaching to develop into a referee right here, it does make you suspicious once you see how the VAR was misproperly utilized in that sixty fourth minute for a contact foul. Never ought to have been utilized like that.”
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