FIFA defends referee Raphael Claus after US President Donald Trump publicly questioned his officiating. The comments follow a red-card decision involving Balogun, prompting debate over the referee’s credibility. FIFA says Claus is “one of the world’s leading professional referees” and describes him as highly qualified. In response to Trump’s criticism, FIFA points to Claus’s status and professional standing rather than addressing any specific element of the match decision. Trump refers to Claus in questioning terms, describing him as “very suspect” or “a bit suspect” and raising doubts about his refereeing credentials. The controversy centers on whether the dismissal decision was justified and whether the referee’s record should be scrutinized due to Trump’s remarks. The accounts from different outlets report the same sequence: Trump targets Claus after the red-card incident, and FIFA issues a defense emphasizing Claus’s experience and reputation. No additional findings or investigations are reported in the provided summaries.