White House’s World Cup head defends Trump lobbying Fifa over red card | World Cup
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-07-08 17:20:00 — www.theguardian.com
Donald Trump Casts Doubt on World Cup Referee’s Integrity, Drawing International Criticism
Donald Trump’s intervention in the World Cup has sparked controversy after he questioned the integrity of Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who issued a red card to US player Folarin Balogun during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Trump claimed Claus was “a little bit suspect, if you check his past,” referencing a 2024 Brazilian senate investigation into referee assignments. However, that investigation did not accuse Claus of any wrongdoing.
Trump’s comments, defended by Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup taskforce, were based on Claus’s involvement as a witness—not a target—in the investigation. Giuliani acknowledged that Claus “was not accused of crimes,” but maintained suspicion due to his testimony in the probe and the use of VAR (video assistant referee) slow-motion, which he argued was misapplied.
FIFA and the Brazilian Football Confederation have both publicly defended Claus, stating there is nothing in his record to question his integrity or suggest any wrongdoing. Critics argue that Trump’s public questioning of the referee’s character not only lacked factual basis but may have motivated the Belgian team, who defeated the US 4-1 and celebrated by parodying Trump’s signature YMCA dance.
Trump’s intervention has been widely criticized for undermining the spirit of fair play and damaging the goodwill the US had built as World Cup host. The episode highlights Trump’s pattern of making disparaging and unsubstantiated claims about individuals, even on the global stage.
As the tournament continues, the fallout from Trump’s remarks serves as a reminder of the far-reaching impact of presidential statements—especially when they cast aspersions without evidence.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/08/trump-fifa-red-card