The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is considering filing a formal complaint with FIFA's Ethics Committee over the controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's automatic one-match ban during the FIFA World Cup.
The United States forward had been expected to miss his side's Round of 16 clash against Belgium after receiving a straight red card in the USA's 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, following an intervention by US President Donald Trump, Balogun's one-match suspension was unexpectedly suspended for 12 months. FIFA offered no detailed explanation for the decision, citing only a regulation that allows certain disciplinary sanctions to be suspended.
Balogun subsequently started against Belgium, with the United States suffering a 4-1 defeat.
In a statement provided to the BBC, NFF president Lise Klaveness said the federation had reacted with "strong concern" to the decision. She confirmed that the matter would be discussed at the federation's next board meeting, where officials will decide whether to submit a formal complaint.
"It is appropriate to include the Balogun case in the inquiry to FIFA's Ethics Committee that we made before the World Cup regarding FIFA's so-called Peace Prize award during the draw in Washington before Christmas last year," Klaveness said.
The Norwegian federation had already lodged a complaint over FIFA's decision to present its inaugural Peace Prize to President Trump during the World Cup draw.
The latest development comes amid reports that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) could also examine the conduct of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has served as an IOC member since 2020.
Section Two of the Olympic Charter states that IOC members must not accept "from governments, organisations, or other parties, any mandate or instructions liable to interfere with the freedom of their action and vote."
Responding to a request from the BBC, the IOC said any ethics complaints remain confidential.
"Complaints to the IOC Ethics Commission are confidential. The IOC will therefore not make any public announcement about whether a complaint has been submitted by an external party. The IOC will only communicate sanctions should the Ethics Commission decide to impose some," the statement read.
The controversy has intensified scrutiny of FIFA's handling of disciplinary matters during the World Cup, with Norway now weighing whether to pursue formal action through the governing body's ethics process.
