European Parliament to investigate Gianni Infantino's contact with Trump over Balogun fiasco

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FT Desk

An investigation from the European Parliament into Gianni Infantino is reportedly gathering pace.

The FIFA president has come under severe scrutiny over the past few days due to the actions of football's governing body in relation to the Folarin Balogun saga at the World Cup.

Last Thursday, the United States striker received a straight red card for a tackle on Bosnia & Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemovic during the World Cup Round of 32 tie between the two nations. The dismissal meant that the player would be banned for the USA's next match against Belgium, which was confirmed after they progressed in that Round of 32 fixture.

However, stunning reports emerged over the weekend that FIFA had overturned Balogun's suspension which would allow him to feature in the game against Belgium.

The Belgian FA released a statement saying they were "astonished" by the decision and vowed to eventually gain justice, no matter the result of the game.

It was later confirmed by US President Donald Trump himself that he personally contacted Infantino to request that Balogun be allowed to play. FIFA lifted the ban, citing Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows it "to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."

No further explanation was given to Belgium initially, but Infantino, attempting to firefight the situation, said the decision was made by an independent disciplinary panel.

Now, the FIFA president could be the subject of an investigation by the European Parliament, reports ESPN.

In a joint statement, European Parliament members Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters, and Niels Fuglsang condemned FIFA's decision to alter its policy on red-card suspensions during the tournament, calling the move "a disgrace and a perversion of justice."

They also accused FIFA President Infantino and the governing body of once again yielding to pressure from the Trump administration.

That last comment was in relation to FIFA refusing to intervene when the USA forced Iran to hold their World Cup home base in Mexico, even though all their matches took place on US soil, while players and staff members were forced to travel in and out for games within a period of 24 hours due to limited visas given.

The USA, in partnership with Israel, have been in conflict with Iran since February.

Somali referee Omar Artan was also refused entry into North America to undertake his duties as a match official.

The three lawmakers have urged football associations across EU member states to press FIFA's Ethics Committee to examine Infantino's conduct. They want the inquiry to determine whether pressure from the Trump administration influenced the decision to overturn the suspension and to assess other possible violations of FIFA's political neutrality, including the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump.

According to Andrews, Wolters and Fuglsang, 35 members of the European Parliament have signed the letter so far requesting the investigation.

"The beauty of sport is that it is based on impartial and transparent rules. When Infantino allows political pressure to determine who gets to play, this sense of fairness goes out the window," the trio said.

The Infantino-Trump relationship

It was the latest chapter in the bromance between Infantino and Trump that has left many feeling rather uncomfortable, nobody more so than former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who posted on socials about the Balogun decision:

"Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President - and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match - the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA?

"Football must never become a playground for political power..."

It should be noted that Blatter was forced to resign in 2015 after a corruption scandal but he has been consistent in his criticism of the relationship between Infantino and Trump and the decision from the former to give the latter the inaugural 'FIFA Peace Prize' at the draw for the World Cup in December.

“We have 211 national associations... and there is not one single association who is opposed to the work of the new president who speaks only with heads of states, and who has brought politics into this World Cup,” Blatter previously told the Telegraph.

“It is a wonderful game, social, cultural – it can be economic – but it’s for the world. Because it’s the most popular game in the world. And now they give the impression that politicians – on one side Saudi Arabia, and on the other side USA – will take over.

“I think this is not the right thing and I’m looking forward with interest now to the 2026 World Cup, how it will be played in three countries.”

Blatter does not think FIFA should be handing out peace awards to politicians, either.

“They should not give [the award],” he said in the interview prior to the draw.

“Football should not give the prize of peace. One day we should receive the prize of peace because we are working for peace. Now they are discussing it in Norway, especially, because the Nobel Prize is based in Norway. In Norway, they are looking [for] who is working for peace. But here they are not working for peace. They will create a new peace award in football.

“I think that’s wrong. Football should receive it from the existing organisation. But this does not go into the heads of those that are directing the football. That’s a pity. That’s a pity.

“My successor, I don’t know if it is really Trump or Infantino. I cannot say they should not have a good friendship, but I don’t see exactly the big interest of football.

“I see this as personal connections, especially with Trump, and I’m not so sure where the actual trophy of the World Cup, which has always been in Zurich well guarded until the opening of the new World Cup, [is]. I doubt that. Perhaps that his trophy is already in the White House.”

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