Gianni Infantino appears likely to avoid any repercussions after allegations surfaced that he violated political neutrality rules through his interactions with Donald Trump regarding the Folarin Balogun case.
The International Olympic Committee received a formal grievance this week from the human rights group FairSquare concerning Infantino’s actions. This follows Trump’s revelation that he contacted the Fifa president to request a review of Balogun’s suspension, which would have kept him out of the USA’s last-16 match against Belgium. Subsequently, the ban was suspended for a year after an unusual decision from Fifa’s disciplinary body.
Having been part of the IOC since 2020, Infantino is bound by its charter, which mandates members act free from political and commercial pressures. The charter specifically prohibits accepting any mandate or instruction from governments or organizations that could compromise their independent action and voting.
FairSquare argues that Infantino’s conversations on this topic with Trump constitute a violation. Infantino refutes this claim, and sources indicate a formal investigation is improbable.
Insiders at the IOC have suggested a deep-seated hesitation to meddle in how an international federation applies its own regulations, especially when internal appeal mechanisms remain untapped.
Another insider noted the power dynamic between the IOC and Fifa has dramatically changed over the last twenty years, with the Olympic body now substantially dependent on the football organization for commercial income and connection with younger demographics.
With Los Angeles hosting the next summer Olympic Games in 2028, the IOC will aim to leverage the surging football interest in the US that generated unprecedented ticket sales and revenue from the World Cup, making any action concerning Balogun even less likely.
It is noteworthy that the IOC has not yet received grievances from Uefa or the Royal Belgium Football Federation, both of which criticized the suspension reduction.
The Belgian federation previously stated it was exploring all legal avenues, including a potential appeal to the court of arbitration for sport, but has remained quiet since the team’s quarter-final elimination by Spain, with indications it is prepared to let the issue go.
Folarin Balogun of the US is shown a red card by referee Raphael Claus.
The federation’s president, Pascale Van Damme, serves on the Fifa Council, the body’s primary decision-making group.
Infantino seems to have weathered the controversy with his influence undiminished, evidenced by over 200 of the 211 Fifa member associations sending personal letters of support to the organization ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
Uefa has reportedly opted against pursuing the issue, despite issuing a strong statement last week backing Belgium that accused Fifa of harming the sport’s credibility and the World Cup’s integrity.
Infantino has acknowledged discussing the matter with Trump, but a statement issued on his behalf by Fifa last week explained they converse regularly on various topics, much like he does with other national leaders.
Infantino further stated that the decision to lift Balogun’s ban was made independently by Fifa’s disciplinary body. He commented that these members operate autonomously and decide cases strictly based on the applicable rules and specific evidence, adding that their independence is crucial for the sport’s integrity and must always be upheld.
A report last weekend claimed the decision to lift Balogun’s suspension was taken solely by the disciplinary committee’s chair, Mohammad al-Kamali of the United Arab Emirates, though other internal sources have suggested he is being positioned as a scapegoat.
A single-handed ruling from al-Kamali would mark a significant break from the committee’s standard World Cup procedures, which typically involve three-person panels overseeing disciplinary issues and making decisions by majority vote.
Panel members are drawn from the disciplinary committee’s 18 individuals, with Thomas Hollerer, the general secretary of the Austrian Football Association, having chaired the panel from the quarter-final stage onward.
The identity of the panel members for the round of 32, the stage where Balogun was ejected during the USA’s 2-1 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, could not be confirmed.
Fifa has not released the written rationale for the disciplinary committee’s decision, but said in a statement last week that the ruling considered all specific circumstances and available evidence, and that reviewing the legal consequences of red cards is not a new practice.
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