Gianni Infantino Could Face Investigation over Trump's Intervention in 2026 World Cup

JAKARTA - Dozens of European parliamentarians are gathering support to launch an investigation in the European Parliament against FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his involvement in the decision to allow the United States (US) striker, Folarin Balogun, to play despite previously receiving a red card.

Infantino could also face an investigation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), after a human rights group said on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, local time, that they would file a complaint.

Balogun got a red card during the US's victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, 2026, which would normally make him ineligible to play in the team's next match.

However, FIFA lifted his suspension for one match on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 WIB, after US President Donald Trump intervened by contacting Infantino on behalf of the 25-year-old striker.

European parliamentarians, Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters, and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement that FIFA's decision to change the rules on red card suspensions in the middle of the tournament was a disgrace and a distortion of justice.

"Once again, we have seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration," the statement said.

The lawmakers called on the national football associations of the EU countries to encourage the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino and whether pressure from the Trump administration was a factor in the lifting of the suspension, as well as other potential violations of political neutrality such as the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump.

Previously, FIFA said the lifting of the suspension was a decision of the Disciplinary Committee.

However, the statement turned out to be controversial. Members of parliament said that 35 of their colleagues had so far signed the letter of investigation.

"The beauty of sport is that sport is based on rules that are impartial and transparent. When Infantino allows political pressure to determine who can play, this sense of justice is lost," they said.

The IOC also has the potential to investigate Infantino's behavior. They cite neutrality as one of the basic principles of the Olympics for sports bodies such as FIFA, as well as having jurisdiction over Infantino since he joined an exclusive group of more than 100 invitees in 2020.

"FairSquare will lodge a complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino's repeated violation of the political neutrality rule," the London-based sports and human rights NGO said in a statement.

The promise to file a formal complaint with the IOC Ethics Commission came one day after the IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, told reporters that no complaints had been received.

"Obviously if they accept it, they will investigate it. Yes, we have obviously observed everything that has happened," Coventry said in an online press conference when asked about Balogun's controversy sparked by the Trump administration's lobbying of FIFA and Infantino.