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Rabat – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has received a complaint calling for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s possible role in the controversial suspension of Folarin Balogun’s World Cup ban.
FairSquare, a nonprofit advocacy organization, submitted the complaint over what it described as repeated breaches of political neutrality by Infantino in his relationship with US President Donald Trump.
The complaint includes allegations that Infantino may have responded to political pressure after Trump contacted him about Balogun’s disciplinary case. Infantino has denied interfering and maintains that FIFA’s judicial bodies reached the decision independently.
Balogun received a direct red card during the United States’ 2-0 round-of-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina for a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic.
The dismissal automatically carried a one-match suspension, which would normally have ruled the striker out of the United States’ round-of-16 game against Belgium.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee later suspended the implementation of the ban for a one-year probationary period under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, allowing Balogun to start against Belgium.
The United States were eliminated after losing the match 4-1.
Trump confirmed calling Infantino
Trump publicly confirmed that he had spoken to Infantino and requested a review of the incident.
“All I did was ask for a review,” Trump said, arguing that Balogun’s challenge did not deserve a red card.
The president welcomed FIFA’s eventual ruling and described the original refereeing decision as incorrect.
The intervention raised questions over whether a political leader had been able to influence a disciplinary process during the World Cup.
Infantino acknowledged receiving the call but said he had only explained that the matter was being handled through FIFA’s legal process.
He insisted that he did not influence the committee’s judgment and stressed that he regularly speaks with heads of state, government officials and other stakeholders about World Cup-related matters.
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent,” Infantino said, adding that their autonomy was essential to the credibility of football.
The FIFA president said he sometimes agreed with disciplinary decisions and was sometimes surprised by them, but always respected the authority of the bodies responsible for issuing them.
FairSquare raises neutrality concerns
FairSquare argued that any intervention by Infantino following Trump’s request would threaten sporting integrity and breach the political neutrality obligations attached to his IOC membership.
Infantino joined the IOC in 2020 and is required to comply with the Olympic Charter and the organization’s Code of Ethics.
FairSquare said its complaint contained five alleged examples of Infantino publicly supporting Trump, along with two further matters that it wants the IOC to investigate.
Besides the Balogun case, the group questioned Infantino’s promotion of a World Cup fan platform that it alleged had connections to entities linked to Trump.
The complaint also cited Infantino’s language following Trump’s 2025 inauguration, his endorsement of the US president for the Nobel Peace Prize and the presentation of FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize to Trump at the World Cup draw.
FairSquare believes those actions could represent political endorsements that conflict with the neutrality expected from both FIFA and IOC officials.
