Trump pressure puts FIFA in a bind, could aid Brazilian ref at World Cup | OneFootball

Donald Trump’s public criticism, which cast doubt on Raphael Claus’s integrity after the sending-off of American Folarin Balogun, has put FIFA in a real diplomatic and sporting crossroads and could end up “helping” the Brazilian referee.

According to UOL journalists Danilo Lavieri and Paulo Vinícius Coelho, what seemed like the natural end of the road for Claus in the tournament could now turn into an extended stay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Before the global fallout from Trump’s remarks, the internal expectation was that Raphael Claus would end his involvement in the 2026 World Cup after officiating two matches: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia and United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The script would be identical to what the Brazilian experienced at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

However, the situation changed drastically with the controversy sparked by the alleged political interference of the United States in FIFA.

According to the UOL journalists, an immediate dismissal at this moment would give the clear impression that FIFA had bowed to the demands of a head of state.

To protect its image and preserve the autonomy of officiating, the organization is considering keeping Claus based in Miami until the end of the competition.

Even if he does not return as the main referee for a match, he could serve as the fourth official.

In this scenario, the journalists point out that it is highly unlikely the Brazilian will be sent back home under the current tense atmosphere.

Atmosphere behind the scenes

Despite his name making headlines all over the world, people close to Raphael Claus say he remains calm.

He continues to take part in the refereeing committee’s daily activities and to receive the daily allowance paid by FIFA.

The referee also has official backing from the football world: after Trump’s attack, FIFA, the CBF, and Conmebol all issued public statements of support, reinforcing confidence in the fairness of his work.

What about the other Brazilians?

Wilton Pereira Sampaio

He is the Brazilian arriving strongest for the final stretch.

With an excellent internal evaluation, he has already officiated three major matches: the opener (South Africa vs. Mexico), Norway vs. Senegal, and the round-of-16 clash between the Netherlands and Morocco.

Wilton is considered one of the five leading candidates to referee one of the semifinals or even the World Cup final itself.

While Claus is in the middle of this mess, the other two representatives of Brazilian refereeing are experiencing different moments in the competition.

Ramon Abatti Abel

He officiated two matches (Switzerland vs. Canada and Belgium vs. Egypt) and was assigned as fourth official for the quarterfinal clash between Spain and Belgium. The expectation is that he will say goodbye to the World Cup shortly after that match.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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