Andrew Giuliani, who heads the White House's World Cup taskforce, has publicly backed President Donald Trump's effort to overturn a suspension imposed on US player Folarin Balogun ahead of Monday's match against Belgium.
Balogun received a red card during the US game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, issued by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus. Trump characterized the official as questionable, citing his past connection to a match-fixing investigation conducted by Brazil's senate in 2024. That probe examined how referees were assigned to games but made no accusations against Claus personally.
At a Foreign Press Center briefing in Washington, Giuliani expanded on the administration's concerns. He flagged two issues: the referee's involvement in the earlier Brazilian investigation, which examined cases of irregular red cards, and what he described as improper VAR protocol in Balogun's dismissal.
"We found it highly suspicious that there was a referee who had been investigated for match-fixing previously, and specifically for irregular red cards," Giuliani told reporters. "Then when you add the fact that the process was misapplied by how VAR was initiated. For contact fouls, you cannot actually utilise slow motion in the VAR, and they did that."
When pressed by a reporter noting that Claus had testified to the investigation rather than been targeted by it, Giuliani acknowledged the distinction but held firm on his broader point. "He was not accused of crimes, we understand that, but 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 irregular red cards," Giuliani said.
Fifa has moved to defend Claus. In a statement this week, the global soccer body said the referee "has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity" throughout his career.
The US ultimately lost the match to Belgium 4-1 and was eliminated from the tournament.
Author James Rodriguez: "The White House mobilizing to challenge a red card shows how much higher the stakes feel now, but Fifa's endorsement of Claus suggests this complaint won't move the needle."
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