Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup taskforce, has defended President Donald Trump’s direct lobbying of FIFA regarding the red card shown to USA striker Folarin Balogun.
White House defends intervention
Balogun was sent off by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus during the group-stage victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision prompted Trump to contact football’s governing body, with the president later stating that Claus was “a little bit suspect, if you check his past”.
Speaking at the Foreign Press Center in Washington DC, Giuliani claimed the circumstances surrounding the dismissal were “very, very highly suspicious”. He highlighted Claus’s connection to a 2024 Brazilian senate investigation into match-fixing, which examined referee assignments and irregular red cards. When challenged by a reporter that Claus gave testimony rather than being a target, Giuliani acknowledged the official was not accused of crimes but maintained his involvement in the probe raised legitimate concerns.
Giuliani also criticised the VAR protocol, arguing officials incorrectly used slow-motion footage to judge a contact foul—a breach of proper procedure. “Look, the US government, whether it’s at the ballot box or whether it’s on the playing field, we want fair play,” he said. He welcomed the appeal filed by US Soccer, stating “we think the correct result was achieved”, though the United States subsequently exited the competition.
FIFA and Brazil defend referee
FIFA and the Brazilian Football Confederation have strongly defended the referee’s integrity. The world governing body stated that Claus “has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity” throughout his career. The Brazilian federation added: “There is nothing in his record that calls his integrity into question or supports any suspicion of wrongdoing.”
US exit tournament
The controversy failed to galvanise the host nation. The United States exited the tournament following a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, a match that saw the victors parody Trump’s YMCA dance in their dressing room.
Giuliani also rejected criticism of logistical arrangements for Iran, who based themselves in Tijuana, Mexico, citing the 27-minute flight time to Los Angeles. He highlighted record attendance figures, with more than 6.5 million fans attending matches—nearly double the previous record set in 1994.