The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided not to pursue allegations against FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding violations of political neutrality in his interactions with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Earlier this month, the human rights organization FairSquare filed a complaint with the IOC, highlighting FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s World Cup penalty following a personal request from Trump to Infantino.
Although Infantino is a member of the IOC, an IOC spokesperson stated that the ethics committee determined it lacked the authority to investigate, as the matter pertains specifically to FIFA’s governance and decisions.
Independent Governance of International Federations
The spokesperson elaborated that the IOC Ethics Commission thoroughly reviewed FairSquare’s complaint. According to them, the Olympic Charter grants each International Federation (IF) independence in governance, and the IOC Code of Ethics applies only to relationships between the IOC and these federations.
The commission concluded that the issues raised in the complaint, particularly those involving FIFA’s governance and its engagement with governmental authorities, fall outside the IOC’s jurisdiction.
As a result, FairSquare has been informed that the complaint does not warrant investigation by the IOC Ethics Committee. The organization maintains its commitment to enhancing governance within the Olympic framework and improving clarity around the roles and responsibilities of its various members.
FairSquare has been approached for further comments on the matter.
Ongoing Investigations by FIFA Ethics Committee
In a related development, FairSquare previously submitted a complaint to FIFA’s Ethics Committee in December concerning Infantino. The complaint highlighted four instances in which Infantino allegedly showed public support for actions or policies endorsed by Trump.
It also called for an examination of Infantino’s involvement in establishing the FIFA Peace Prize, awarded to Trump during the 2026 World Cup draw, questioning whether this decision adhered to FIFA’s procedural rules.
Earlier this month, FairSquare announced that FIFA’s Ethics Committee had acknowledged receipt of the complaint, but additional information has yet to be disclosed.
The allegations emerged prior to the controversy surrounding Balogun’s disciplinary action. FIFA’s disciplinary committee had announced on July 5 that Balogun’s one-match suspension was overturned, a decision Trump claimed he had personally advocated for with Infantino.
Disciplinary Actions Under Scrutiny
Infantino asserted that FIFA’s decision-making body acted autonomously, though the disciplinary committee has not clarified the specific factors leading to the suspension’s postponement. Reports indicate that the committee chairman, Mohammad Al Kamali, single-handedly made the decision to revoke the suspension.
Reacting to these developments, UEFA released a statement calling the committee’s action concerning Balogun “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjust.” UEFA president Alexander Ceferin is also reported to have abstained from attending the final match in protest against this decision and various other pressing issues related to FIFA’s governance.
