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.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA