Andrew Giuliani, the head of the White House’s World Cup taskforce, has come to Donald Trump’s defense regarding his efforts to persuade Fifa to revoke the suspension of U.S. player Folarin Balogun for the upcoming match against Belgium.
Trump expressed doubts about Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who issued a red card to Balogun during the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He described Claus as “a little bit suspect, if you check his past” referencing a match-fixing probe by Brazil’s senate in 2024 that scrutinized referee assignments but did not implicate Claus in any wrongdoing.
While addressing reporters at the Foreign Press Center in Washington, Giuliani stated, “We found it highly suspicious that there was a referee who had been investigated for match-fixing previously, and specifically for irregular red cards – issuing irregular red cards. Then when you add the fact that the process was misapplied by how VAR was initiated. For contact fouls, you cannot actually utilise the slow motion in the VAR, and they did that. “So when you add those two facts together there, we found it was very, very highly suspicious. And look, the US government, whether it’s at the ballot box or whether it is on the playing field, we want fair play, right?”
He further elaborated, saying, “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, I quote, ‘irregular red cards’. So that’s the facts of it. He was akin to that investigation.”
In response to a reporter’s challenge, who noted that Claus only testified in the match-fixing investigation and was not a target, Giuliani conceded, “Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.”
Ultimately, the United States suffered a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, resulting in their exit from the tournament. Fifa has since stood by Claus, asserting in a statement this week.
“Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.”
