FIFA president Gianni Infantino is being referred to Olympic ethics investigators for a possible breach of political neutrality after U.S. President Donald Trump’s involvement in striker Folarin Balogun's red card controversy. The London-based sports and human rights NGO FairSquare announced on Wednesday that it will file a formal complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Ethics Commission.
Trump Confirms Intervention
US President Donald Trump confirmed he intervened in FIFA's unprecedented decision to allow United States forward Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium on Monday despite being sent off in the team's previous match. The controversial ruling sparked widespread debate, with a fired-up Belgium side responding emphatically by thrashing the United States 4-1 in Seattle.
FairSquare's pledge to file the complaint came one day after IOC President Kirsty Coventry told reporters that no such complaint had yet been received. “Obviously if they do they would look into it,” Coventry said Tuesday in an online news conference when asked about the Balogun controversy fueled by the Trump administration lobbying FIFA and Infantino.
IOC Neutrality Rules
The IOC cites neutrality among “fundamental principles of Olympism” for sports bodies like FIFA, and has jurisdiction over Infantino since he joined its exclusive group of 100-plus invited members in 2020. “FairSquare will file a complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s repeated breach of political neutrality rules,” the NGO said in a statement Wednesday.
“Yes, we have been obviously watching everything play out,” the IOC president had said earlier when asked about interference in field-of-play issues by the World Cup co-host nation, which also will stage the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The complaint underscores growing concerns over political influence in sports governance, particularly with the 2026 World Cup approaching.
