More than 100,000 people have signed a complaint demanding that FIFA investigate President Gianni Infantino for alleged breaches of the world soccer governing body’s code of ethics related to his connections with former U.S. President Donald Trump, the human rights organization FairSquare said on Tuesday.
The complaint, filed by FairSquare and its “Reboot FIFA” campaign, accuses Infantino of multiple violations outlined in a letter to FIFA’s Ethics Committee. Allegations include abuse of power, breaching political neutrality duties, and violating loyalty obligations in efforts to "ingratiate himself with the U.S. President."
FairSquare director Nicholas McGeehan stated that the follow-up to an initial complaint submitted in December 2025 was filed after recent events during and after the World Cup, which concluded in July. The complaint points to Trump contacting Infantino during the World Cup to review a red card issued to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, which was subsequently suspended. It also references Infantino's abandoned proposal to sell a stake in FIFA events to private equity investors.
"The allegations are a lot more serious. We now have this public and political concern and we felt it was time to again put pressure on the FIFA Ethics Committee and really lay down the gauntlet to them," McGeehan told Reuters. "Are you capable of holding your senior officials to account? That’s what we’re trying to do with this follow-up."
In July, the International Olympic Committee rejected a similar complaint by FairSquare against Infantino concerning his support for Trump, stating the matter fell outside its Ethics Commission's jurisdiction. FIFA has been contacted for comment.
FIFA’s Ethics Committee acknowledged receipt of the first complaint on December 12 of the previous year but has provided no update since, according to FairSquare's letter. The complaint details eight incidents, including accusations that Infantino breached FIFA’s political neutrality by publicly endorsing Trump’s political slogan and agenda. It also alleges he abused his authority by unilaterally creating the FIFA Peace Prize without FIFA Council approval and awarding it to Trump.
Infantino is also accused of abusing his authority by secretly developing FIFA Forward Enterprise with politically connected investors while bypassing FIFA governance processes, a proposal that was ultimately withdrawn after global backlash. FairSquare is seeking a two-year ban from football activities for Infantino.
"But this complaint is about a lot more than Infantino," McGeehan added. "Really, for us, it’s about demonstrating to the policymakers who should be scrutinising FIFA’s conduct and its governance that the organization is incapable of regulating itself."
Infantino is seeking re-election to a fourth term as FIFA president in March, with no credible challenger having emerged. He remains committed to standing for re-election despite renewed opposition to his candidacy. Last month, FairSquare urged FIFA to rule Infantino ineligible for another term, arguing he had already served the maximum three terms permitted by the body’s statutes. In 2022, Infantino successfully argued that his first term, which began in 2016 after Sepp Blatter's resignation, should not count towards the limit as it completed an interrupted mandate.