The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has received a formal complaint accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino of violating rules on political neutrality through his public support for United States President Donald Trump.
The complaint was submitted by advocacy group FairSquare, which urged the IOC to investigate several incidents involving Infantino, including his alleged role in the lifting of a one-match suspension that allowed United States striker Folarin Balogun to feature in the team’s Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
Infantino acknowledged receiving a phone call from President Trump, who had publicly called for Balogun to be allowed to play. However, the FIFA president denied influencing the decision, insisting that FIFA’s judicial committees operate independently and make their decisions without external interference.
Balogun had originally received a red card during the United States’ previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting in an automatic suspension. Despite FIFA later suspending the implementation of the ban, no detailed explanation was provided for the decision.
FairSquare argued that the incident raises questions about the integrity of FIFA’s disciplinary process and alleged that Infantino breached IOC ethical standards by displaying political bias.
The organisation also cited other actions by Infantino, including social media posts supporting Trump, his endorsement of the US president for the Nobel Peace Prize, and his participation in events linked to Trump’s political activities.
According to FairSquare, these actions amount to multiple violations of the IOC’s rules requiring members to remain politically neutral. The group noted that the IOC has the authority to discipline or remove members who fail to comply with its ethical standards.
The advocacy organisation had previously filed a similar complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee, which reportedly received support from the Norwegian Football Federation and several members of the European Parliament.
Neither the IOC nor FIFA had issued an official response to the latest complaint at the time of reporting.
