The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Friday that it will not investigate FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding a call from former President Donald Trump concerning Folarin Balogun's red card during a World Cup match. The IOC ethics commission determined the complaint lacked jurisdiction.
A London-based non-governmental organization, FairSquare, had formally complained to the IOC ethics commission. The complaint cited the Olympic Charter's principle of neutrality for sports bodies like FIFA. However, the IOC stated that the complaint "refers only to (FIFA’s) decisions on its governance and its management, including its relations with government, and to (FIFA’s) implementation of the rules of its sport."
"Consequently, the complaint falls outside the IOC ethics commission’s jurisdiction," the IOC said in a statement. The IOC has included Infantino in its ranks since 2020.
Balogun, a U.S. Men's National Team player, received a red card in the round of 32 of the World Cup, which initially made him ineligible for the subsequent match. FIFA later suspended the red card, allowing Balogun to play. Trump stated he called Infantino to request a review, asserting he "didn't think it was a foul." He added that he did not tell Infantino what to do but believed a committee made the final decision, which he deemed correct.
"I think it’s a terrible… if they wouldn’t allow a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best on the team, to play, I think it would have had a big stain," Trump said. "I relayed it. I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, No. 1, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players."
Balogun himself acknowledged the controversy, stating that the red card reversal caused "a lot of outside noise" among his teammates. Despite Balogun's participation, the U.S. team lost to Belgium 4-1 in the match. FIFA, in response to the situation, claimed that Trump's call did not influence their decision. Infantino himself has previously credited the Trump administration for contributing to a "historic cultural event" during a FIFA reception at Trump Tower.