FIFA President Gianni Infantino is reportedly being referred to Olympic ethics investigators for potential violations of political neutrality, according to a human rights group. The complaint stems from actions involving former U.S. President Donald Trump and a decision regarding a player's red card suspension during a World Cup match.
FairSquare, a London-based sports and human rights non-governmental organization, announced Wednesday that it will file a complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Ethics Commission. The group alleges that Infantino has repeatedly breached rules of political neutrality. This pledge follows a statement from IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Tuesday, who indicated that no such complaint had yet been received but would be reviewed if filed.
Trump claimed credit on Monday for FIFA's decision to allow United States forward Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium, despite Balogun having received a red card in the team's prior game. This decision was described as unprecedented in modern World Cup history. The match concluded with Belgium winning 4-1.
The IOC considers neutrality a fundamental principle of Olympism, and it holds jurisdiction over Infantino due to his membership in the IOC since 2020. IOC President Coventry acknowledged that the Olympic body was observing the developments, particularly concerning interference in field-of-play matters by the World Cup co-host nation, which is also slated to host the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Infantino and Trump have maintained close ties since 2018, when the United States, Canada, and Mexico were awarded the bid to host the current World Cup. Infantino has made multiple visits to the White House and has publicly expressed support for Trump's work. In December, Infantino presented Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize at an event in Washington D.C., an award described by senior soccer officials as Infantino's executive decision.
In addition to the IOC complaint, FairSquare had previously filed a formal complaint with FIFA's ethics committee in December regarding Infantino and political neutrality. This complaint is reportedly supported by the Norway soccer federation and approximately 50 members of the European Parliament. FIFA has not provided an update on this case in the seven months since it was filed.