FIFA’s Gianni Infantino is under formal investigation by the IOC for alleged political bias. The complaint follows a disputed red card reversal for Folarin Balogun. Human rights group FairSquare accuses Infantino of breaching neutrality rules.
Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA and a member of the International Olympic Committee since 2020, is now at the center of a formal ethics complaint filed with the IOC. The case stems from the high-profile incident involving Folarin Balogun during the recent World Cup, where the American striker’s red card in the round of 16 was controversially overturned ahead of the United States’ match against Belgium. The complaint, submitted by the UK-based human rights organization FairSquare, accuses Infantino of repeated violations of the IOC’s strict neutrality rules.
According to FairSquare, there is substantial evidence that Infantino breached the IOC’s political neutrality standards on at least five occasions, including public statements and explicit support for the US president. The organization’s report also highlights two additional serious allegations: first, that Infantino may have yielded to political pressure from President Trump to bypass FIFA’s disciplinary procedures in the so-called “Balogun” case; and second, that he promoted a FIFA fan website allegedly linked to a data-gathering campaign associated with Trump.
The IOC’s ethics commission will now review the complaint, which was made possible after Kirsty Coventry, a senior IOC official, clarified that Infantino was not exempt from investigation and only required a formal submission to trigger proceedings. This step was taken by FairSquare on Tuesday, intensifying scrutiny on FIFA’s leadership and its handling of disciplinary matters during the tournament.
Infantino’s position as both FIFA president and IOC member obliges him to adhere to the Olympic Charter’s core principles, including political neutrality. The IOC’s authority to investigate stems from this dual role, making the current proceedings particularly significant. Notably, this is not the first time FairSquare has targeted Infantino; in 2025, the group also filed a complaint over similar alleged breaches of neutrality.
The controversy surrounding Infantino’s conduct comes amid broader tensions in international football governance. Recent years have seen several high-profile disputes involving sports officials and political influence, as highlighted in other cases such as the diplomatic fallout between Spain and France before a World Cup semifinal, which was covered in detail in a previous report on political tensions in football. These incidents underscore the ongoing debate over the boundaries between sport and politics at the highest levels.
For context, the IOC’s ethics commission is responsible for upholding the Olympic Charter and investigating potential breaches by its members. The principle of political neutrality is central to both the IOC and FIFA, aiming to ensure that sporting decisions remain free from external influence. The outcome of the current investigation could have implications for the governance of international football and the relationship between global sports bodies and political leaders. As the process unfolds, attention will remain focused on how the IOC addresses these allegations and whether further action will be taken against Infantino or other officials involved.
