Collina sticks up for referee criticised by Trump after sending off Balogun

Italian refereeing great Pierluigi

Collina, the chairman of FIFA's referees committee, has stuck up

for Raphael Claus, the Brazilian official criticized by US

President Donald Trump for sending off United States forward

Folarin Balogun in their last-32 match against Bosnia and

Herzegovina at the World Cup.

FIFA controversially suspended Balogun's automatic one-match

ban, enabling him to play in Monday's last-16 match against

Belgium, which the USA lost 4-1.

"Claus is at his second World Cup after being part of our team

in Qatar," Collina said.

"He is an experienced and highly respected referee, and we have

full confidence in him as a reliable referee".

Trump had called Claus "suspect".

The US president ignited a firestorm of criticism after phoning

FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask him to review Balogun's

ban.

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