football

Giuliani Defends Trump on Balogun Referee Claim

Published July 9, 2026 · Updated July 9, 2026 · The Guardian

Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup taskforce, defended Donald Trump’s lobbying to lift the suspension of US player Folarin Balogun, citing suspicions over referee Raphael Claus.

Andrew Giuliani announced that he had supported Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn FIFA’s suspension of Folarin Balogun ahead of the US’s quarter‑final match. Giuliani said Trump had raised concerns that referee Raphael Claus, who issued Balogun a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, was “a little bit suspect.” sport-tr.bet

Claus’s reputation has been under review since a 2024 investigation by Brazil’s senate examined how referees are assigned to matches, though no wrongdoing has been formally charged. The controversy adds another layer to the already huku‑huge drama surrounding the World Cup 2026 matchups.

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