GENEVA (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under scrutiny from Olympic ethics investigators for potentially violating rules of political neutrality, according to a statement from a human rights organization on Wednesday. This incident comes on the heels of U.S. President Donald Trump intervening to prevent the suspension of World Cup player Folarin Balogun.
On Monday, Trump claimed credit for FIFA's unprecedented decision to allow Balogun, a forward for the United States team, to participate in a match against Belgium despite having received a red card in a prior game. The controversy certainly ignited the Belgian team, who clinched a decisive victory with a score of 4-1 during the game held in Seattle.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) emphasizes neutrality as a fundamental principle of Olympism, which governs sports organizations such as FIFA. Infantino, who became part of the IOC's elite group of over 100 invited members in 2020, is therefore subject to its jurisdiction.
A London-based sports and human rights NGO, FairSquare, announced its intention to file a complaint with the IOC concerning Infantino's alleged breaches of political neutrality. This pledge to take formal action came just a day after IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated that they had not yet received such a complaint.
During an online news conference, Coventry acknowledged the ongoing oversight of the situation, noting that the IOC is monitoring the developments that involve lobbying from the Trump administration directed at both FIFA and Infantino regarding Balogun's playing eligibility.
Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump since 2018, a period during which the U.S., Canada, and Mexico successfully won the bid to host the World Cup. Since then, Infantino has frequently visited the White House, including attending Trump's second inauguration in January 2025, where he remarked on the need for support for the president's initiatives, deeming them "pretty good."
Highlighting their ties, Infantino established the FIFA Peace Prize, awarded to Trump during the World Cup tournament draw held in Washington D.C. in December. It has been reported by senior football officials that the creation of this award was an executive decision made solely by Infantino.
Furthermore, FairSquare has also filed a formal complaint with FIFA's ethics committee regarding Infantino's political neutrality violations. This complaint is backed by the Norway soccer federation and around 50 members of the European Parliament. As of now, FIFA has not provided any updates concerning this ethics case in the seven months since it was lodged, raising concerns about the committee's responsiveness to such significant allegations.
