Raphael Claus defends World Cup red card decision after Trump criticism

Brazilian referee Raphael Claus has defended his decision to send off US striker Fikayo Balogun during a World Cup match against Bosnia. Speaking on the program ‘Altas Horas’, Claus emphasized the necessity of mental preparation for high-stakes international competitions to ensure correct decision-making under global scrutiny.

The incident occurred during the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia, when Claus reviewed a VAR replay of a hard tackle by Balogun on Tarik Muharemovic and issued a red card. While the FIFA Disciplinary Committee later suspended the punishment, allowing Balogun to play in the next round, the decision drew significant political attention.

US President Donald Trump criticized the referee, labeling him ‘suspicious’ and suggesting his history warranted a review. Reports indicated that US government officials sought information regarding Claus’s previous testimony in a Brazilian investigation into match manipulation; however, no evidence has linked the referee to any wrongdoing.