A formal complaint has been lodged with the International Olympic Committee, alleging that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has breached the organization’s principles of political neutrality in his interactions with former President Donald Trump.
The human rights advocacy group Fair Square asserts that Infantino, an IOC member since 2020, has consistently violated the Olympic Charter and the IOC’s ethical standards. This claim is notably tied to his response regarding the controversy surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee recently overturned Balogun’s one-match suspension, enabling him to participate in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium. Following this decision, Trump reached out to Infantino, who maintained that FIFA’s committees operate independently.
The accusations come amidst reports from ESPN indicating that numerous European lawmakers are mobilizing within the European Parliament to demand an investigation into Infantino’s conduct.
According to ESPN sources, Disciplinary Commissioner Mohammad Al Kamali, who had not been the leading adjudicator in prior well-known disciplinary matters, independently decided to lift Balogun’s ban, as first reported by the Times.
FIFA has not publicly clarified the reasoning behind the suspension’s cancellation.
Fair Square’s complaint outlines “prima facie” evidence supporting five specific violations of the IOC’s political neutrality regulations, as well as two additional serious infractions that relate to the handling of the Balogun incident.
Fair Square claims, “Gianni Infantino has repeatedly contravened IOC rules on political neutrality by openly expressing support for Donald Trump.” They stated, “The evidence indicates that Mr. Infantino has committed five distinct violations of IOC standards through various public endorsements of the former President.”
Additionally, they noted, “We have gathered prima facie evidence for two more severe violations, which we will urge the IOC to investigate. One pertains to potential capitulation to political influence from President Trump that might bypass FIFA’s disciplinary protocols during the 2026 Men’s World Cup.”
They further indicated that the second violation relates to Infantino’s endorsement of a FIFA fan site for the upcoming World Cup, purportedly linked to a data collection initiative associated with Trump.
Earlier, in December, Fair Square had filed a comparable complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee, receiving confirmation that the complaint was acknowledged, yet details have remained scarce.
Last month, the Norwegian Football Federation reached out to FIFA’s Ethics Committee, urging an evaluation of Fair Square’s allegations. Additionally, fifty members of the European Parliament submitted a letter on June 29, requesting the European Parliament address these matters.
Both FIFA and the IOC have been approached for commentary regarding the situation.
Information from PA has contributed to this report.
