The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed it will not launch an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino, following a formal complaint that alleged a breach of political neutrality. Human rights campaign group FairSquare had approached the IOC, claiming Infantino had contravened the Olympic charter through “statements or other clear expressions of support for the US president”.
FairSquare's complaint also highlighted an incident during the recent World Cup where US President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged contacting Infantino. Trump stated he had called the FIFA president to request a review of a red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had been sent off during the US's 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, a decision that would typically result in a one-match ban, making him ineligible for the subsequent last-16 match against Belgium.
Following Trump's intervention, Balogun's automatic one-match suspension was surprisingly suspended for 12 months. No specific reason was provided for this decision beyond a general reference to a rule that permits the suspension of punishments. This allowed Balogun to participate in the match against Belgium, which his side ultimately lost 4-1.
The IOC, of which Infantino has been a member since 2020, clarified its stance in a statement. It asserted that the complaint fell outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission. The committee explained that “The current complaint, with regard to the Fifa president, refers only to the international federation's decisions on its governance and its management, including its relations with government, and to the international federation's implementation of the rules of its sport, which are both outside the scope of application of the IOC code of ethics.” This suggests the IOC views the matters raised as internal FIFA affairs rather than breaches of its own ethical guidelines for members.
The IOC's decision comes amidst growing scrutiny from other footballing bodies. The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is currently weighing up whether to file a formal complaint with FIFA's own ethics committee concerning the contentious suspension of Balogun's ban. NFF president Lise Klaveness expressed “strong concern” over the matter and indicated a decision would be made at the federation's next board meeting. The NFF has already lodged a complaint regarding FIFA's inaugural Peace Prize being awarded to Donald Trump.