The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has received a formal complaint accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino of breaching rules on political neutrality through his repeated public support for US President Donald Trump.
The complaint was submitted by FairSquare, a non-profit advocacy organisation, which asked the IOC to investigate several incidents involving Infantino. One of the main concerns centres on the suspension of a one-match ban for United States striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to feature in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16 match against Belgium on 6 July.
Balogun had been sent off during the USA’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 1 July after receiving a straight red card for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic. Although automatic suspensions are normally not subject to appeal, FIFA later announced that the ban had been suspended under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, without providing further explanation.
President Trump later revealed that he had requested a review of the incident, saying, “All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul.” Infantino confirmed receiving a call from Trump but insisted he played no role in the decision-making process. He also stated that FIFA’s judicial committees operate independently, adding, “Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.”
FairSquare argues that Gianni Infantino political neutrality has been compromised by several actions, including public statements supporting Trump, social media posts, and his endorsement of the US President for the Nobel Prize. The organisation also questioned Infantino’s promotion of a FIFA fan platform linked to the 2026 World Cup, claiming it may have been connected to organisations associated with Trump.
The complaint notes that Infantino, who became an IOC member in 2020, is required to follow the Olympic Charter and the IOC Code of Ethics. FairSquare has also submitted a separate complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee, supported by the Norwegian Football Federation and 50 members of the European Parliament.
Neither the IOC nor FIFA has responded publicly to the allegations.
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