FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing a formal complaint lodged with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), alleging breaches of political neutrality rules. The complaint, filed by human rights organisation FairSquare, focuses on Infantino's interactions with former United States President Donald Trump, specifically highlighting the controversial suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun's one-match World Cup ban.
FairSquare claims that Mr. Infantino, who became an IOC member in 2020, has repeatedly violated the Olympic Charter and the IOC's code of ethics. The most recent incident cited is the decision to suspend Balogun's ban, which allowed him to play in a World Cup last-16 match against Belgium. This suspension reportedly followed a phone call between President Trump and Mr. Infantino, despite the FIFA President's assertions of independence for FIFA's disciplinary committees.
Reports indicate that Mohammad Al Kamali, the disciplinary committee chair, made the decision to suspend Balogun's ban alone. This represents a departure from previous disciplinary cases where he was not the sole arbiter. FIFA has yet to provide a public explanation for the ban's suspension, leading to further scrutiny and questions about the transparency of its disciplinary processes.
The human rights group's complaint outlines five clear breaches of the IOC's rules on political neutrality, alongside 'prima facie' evidence of two additional serious breaches, including the Balogun case. This is not the first time FairSquare has raised concerns; they submitted a similar complaint to FIFA's ethics committee in December, which was acknowledged but has not seen further action. In a show of mounting pressure, the Norwegian football federation wrote to FIFA’s ethics committee last month, requesting consideration of FairSquare’s complaint, and fifty Members of the European Parliament urged the same committee on 29 June to address the allegations.
The handling of Balogun's case has drawn further criticism when compared to other disciplinary decisions made during the World Cup. England defender Jarell Quansah, for instance, received a two-match ban following a red card in England's 3-2 victory over Mexico, meaning he will miss further matches should England progress to the final. France also unsuccessfully appealed a yellow card issued to Michael Olise in their 1-0 win against Paraguay in the round of 16, though Olise avoided a booking in their quarter-final against Morocco, making him available for their semi-final match against Spain on Tuesday.