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FIFA's Infantino targeted by complaint to Olympic ethics body after Trump lobbying on Balogun ban
PBS • • general
Key Points:
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino is being referred to Olympic ethics investigators for a potential breach of political neutrality after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened to lift a World Cup player's suspension.
- Trump took credit for FIFA's unprecedented decision to allow U.S. forward Folarin Balogun to play despite a prior red card, a move that drew criticism and was linked to Infantino's ties with Trump.
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) enforces political neutrality among sports bodies like FIFA, and the London-based NGO FairSquare plans to file a formal complaint against Infantino with the IOC Ethics Commission.
- Infantino has maintained close relations with Trump since 2018, including attending Trump's second inauguration and creating the FIFA Peace Prize awarded to Trump in 2025.
- FairSquare also filed a complaint with FIFA's ethics committee in December regarding Infantino's political neutrality, but FIFA has not provided any updates on the matter in over seven months.
