LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP)—FIFA defended the World Cup referee at the centre of the Folarin Balogun controversy on Monday after the official was branded “very suspect” by US President Donald Trump.

In a statement, FIFA said Brazilian official Rapahel Claus had “demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity” throughout his career.

Claus had shown US striker Balogun a controversial red card last week, prompting Trump to lobby FIFA to review the forward’s one-match suspension.

FIFA subsequently reprieved Balogun, allowing him to play in Monday’s last-16 clash against Belgium in Seattle, in a decision that has been widely criticised.

Trump had questioned Claus’s refereeing credentials while speaking to reporters in the White House earlier on Monday.

“This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. I don’t want to say that because I don’t like to create controversy, but very suspect. He made a call that nobody could believe,” Trump said.

The remarks had already been condemned by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), who said there was nothing in Claus’s background which “gives grounds for suspicion.”

FIFA chief refereeing officer and chairman of the referees committee Pierluigi Collina, said Claus was a key member of the World Cup referees pool.

“Raphael Claus is refereeing at his second FIFA World Cup having been with us in Qatar in 2022,” Collina said in a statement.

“He is an experienced and highly respected referee and we maintain full confidence in him as a trusted match official.”