A formal complaint has been submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s alleged violation of political neutrality regulations. The complaint is being brought forward by FairSquare, a non-governmental organization based in London that focuses on sports and human rights.
This action follows FIFA’s controversial decision to allow U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to participate in a match against Belgium, despite having received a red card in his prior game. This decision reportedly came after intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Infantino is now under scrutiny from Olympic ethics investigators for potentially breaching the established principle of political neutrality. This situation arose after Trump claimed responsibility for FIFA’s unprecedented choice, which permitted Balogun to play despite his suspension, resulting in a 4-1 defeat for the U.S. team against Belgium, thus eliminating them from the tournament.
The IOC emphasizes that neutrality is a cornerstone of Olympism for all sports organizations, including FIFA, and holds jurisdiction over Infantino since his inclusion in its exclusive membership in 2020.
In a statement released on Wednesday, FairSquare announced its intention to file a complaint with the IOC Ethics Commission concerning Infantino’s repeated violations of political neutrality. This declaration came a day after IOC President Kirsty Coventry informed reporters that no complaints had been submitted regarding the Balogun incident.
During an online news conference, Coventry stated that should a complaint be filed, it would be investigated. She acknowledged the IOC’s awareness of the situation, particularly given the implications for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which will be co-hosted by the U.S.
FIFA has yet to comment on the complaint directed at its president.
Infantino’s relationship with Trump has strengthened since 2018, when the U.S., Canada, and Mexico were awarded the rights to host the 2026 World Cup. Infantino has frequently visited the White House and has publicly supported Trump, praising his administration’s efforts.
Notably, Infantino established the FIFA Peace Prize, which was awarded to Trump during the World Cup tournament draw in Washington, D.C., last December. This initiative was reportedly an executive decision made by Infantino, according to senior soccer officials.
Additionally, FairSquare had previously filed a complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee in December regarding Infantino’s adherence to political neutrality, supported by the Norwegian soccer federation and approximately 50 members of the European Parliament. There has been no update from FIFA on this matter in the past seven months.
