Andrew Giuliani, who leads the World Cup task force for the White House, has come to the defense of Donald Trump regarding his efforts to persuade FIFA to revoke the suspension of American player Folarin Balogun for the upcoming match against Belgium.
President Trump expressed concerns about the Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who issued a red card to Balogun during the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, suggesting that Claus’s past raises questions about his integrity. This remark seemingly alludes to a match-fixing probe conducted by Brazil’s senate in 2024, which looked into the assignment of referees but did not implicate Claus in any misconduct.
During a press briefing at the Foreign Press Center in Washington, Giuliani stated, “We found it extremely suspicious that a referee, previously examined for match-fixing, was involved, particularly regarding the issuance of questionable red cards. Additionally, the application of the VAR technology in this situation was flawed. For fouls requiring contact review, slow-motion footage should not have been utilized, yet it was.”
Giuliani emphasized, “When you consider these two issues together, it raises significant concerns. The US government advocates for fair play, whether in elections or sports.”
When a reporter pointed out that Claus was merely a witness in the match-fixing investigation and not a subject of it, Giuliani conceded, “He was not formally accused of any crimes, that is correct. However, my point is that he was associated with a match-fixing inquiry in Brazil where ‘irregular red cards’ were reportedly issued. That is the crux of the situation; he was connected to that investigation.”
The United States suffered a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, resulting in their elimination from the tournament. FIFA has issued a statement in support of Claus, asserting, “Throughout his career, he has maintained the highest levels of professionalism and integrity.”
