FIFA president Gianni Infantino is poised to escape without sanction after complaints he breached rules on political neutrality in his dealings with Donald Trump over the Folarin Balogun affair. The IOC has shown reluctance to intervene in an international federation’s application of its own rules, while critics accuse Infantino of political bias linked to his ties with Donald Trump.
A Formal Complaint, No Formal Action
A human rights organization has formally accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of violating the Olympic Charter by allegedly prioritizing political interests over sporting neutrality in the Folarin Balogun red card controversy. FairSquare’s complaint, lodged with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), alleges breaches of political neutrality rules, including Infantino’s alleged discussions with Donald Trump regarding Balogun’s ban. However, the IOC has shown no intention of acting, with sources indicating an extreme reluctance to intervene in an international federation’s application of its own rules.
The dispute centers on Balogun, who was sent off during the USA’s win against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a red card. His ban was subsequently suspended for 12 months after a ruling from FIFA’s disciplinary committee. Trump revealed he had called the FIFA president asking him to review Balogun’s ban. FairSquare claims that Infantino’s discussions on the matter with Trump represent a breach. Infantino denies this and the Guardian has been told there is unlikely to be a formal investigation.
IOC’s Reluctance to Intervene
The IOC’s inaction reflects a balance of power between the IOC and FIFA that has shifted significantly over the past two decades, with the former increasingly reliant on the latter for commercial revenue and relevance. A source said the IOC will hope to capitalise on the football boom in the US, making any action on Balogun even more unlikely. IOC sources have disclosed that there is an extreme reluctance on its part to intervene in an international federation’s application of its own rules, particularly when internal appeals processes have not been exhausted.
Despite FairSquare’s allegations, the IOC has yet to receive complaints from UEFA or the Royal Belgium Football Federation, who both condemned the decision to suspend Balogun’s ban. The Belgian federation, whose president, Pascale Van Damme, is a member of FIFA Council, has been silent since the team were knocked out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals by Spain, with sources indicating it is ready to drop the matter.
Fan Outcry and Political Tensions
Public backlash against Infantino has intensified, with fans in New York and beyond condemning his perceived alignment with Trump. At a World Cup viewing event in Rockefeller Center, boos erupted whenever Infantino’s name appeared on screen. He is the most corrupt man walking the planet,
said English fan Priscilla Mensah. That whole mixing of politics with FIFA is BS…but that’s America, that’s Trump’s America right now.
The controversy has also overshadowed Infantino’s presentation of the ‘FIFA Peace Prize’ to Trump in December 2025. Infantino has admitted speaking to Trump about the issue, but a statement made in his name by FIFA said they spoke regularly on a range of subjects, and that he does likewise with other heads of state. Infantino also said the decision to revoke Balogun’s ban was taken independently by FIFA’s disciplinary committee. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA disciplinary code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them,
he said.
Unanswered Questions and Future Implications
While the IOC has not pursued the complaint, the incident has reignited debates about FIFA’s governance. Critics point to Infantino’s public endorsement of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025, his appearance at the first meeting of Trump’s Board of Peace in February, and wearing a red ‘45-47’ hat. A report noted a FIFA fan site for the 2026 World Cup appeared to have been part of a data-harvesting campaign run by entities linked to Trump.
Infantino appears to have emerged from the scandal with his powerbase intact, with more than 200 of the 211 FIFA members having sent letters of personal endorsement to FIFA before next year’s presidential election. Yet, the question lingers: how long can a leader navigate the intersection of sport and politics without facing lasting consequences?
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