White House’s World Cup head defends Trump lobbying Fifa over red card

Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House's World Cup taskforce, has defended Donald Trump's intervention in a controversial refereeing decision during a recent match. Giuliani asserted that the actions of referee Raphael Claus, who issued a red card to U.S. player Folarin Balogun, were "very, very highly suspicious."

Giuliani's defense comes after Trump publicly questioned Claus's officiating during the game against Belgium. The former president suggested the referee might be unreliable, referencing a match-fixing investigation in Brazil from 2024. While the investigation examined referee assignments, it did not accuse Claus of any wrongdoing.

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actions of referee Raphael Claus over US player Folarin Balogun ‘very, very highly suspicious’

The White House taskforce head's comments underscore the administration's engagement with international sports, particularly concerning perceived injustices against American athletes. Giuliani's remarks aim to validate Trump's concerns and frame the referee's decision as potentially unfair, thereby defending the former president's decision to speak out on the matter.

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Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who showed Balogun a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, was “a little bit suspect, if you check his past”.