Win for Infantino as major IOC ethics complaint thrown out due to jurisdiction issue

Analysis

FT Desk

The International Olympic Committee has thrown out a complaint about FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying it is not within the organisation's jurisdiction.

Infantino has courted controversy over the last year due to his increasingly close relationship with United States President Donald Trump, as FIFA is supposed to remain politically neutral.

He was heavily criticised for a FIFA Disciplinary Committee decision to overturn USA striker Folarin Balogun's suspension to allow him to play in a knockout match versus Belgium. Such interference has never happened before in the history of the World Cup and it was later confirmed by Trump himself that he personally contacted Infantino to look at the situation.

Human rights organisation FairSquare complained to the IOC about Infantino's behaviour.

"As outlined in the FairSquare complaint, there is compelling evidence that Infantino has committed five clear breaches of IOC rules on political neutrality through statements or other clear expressions of support for the US President," a statement from the group read.

"The report also provides prima facie evidence of two further serious breaches, which it has requested that the IOC investigate. The first of these relates to possible acquiescence to political pressure from President Trump to circumvent FIFA’s on-field disciplinary rules during the 2026 men’s World Cup in the so-called ‘Balogun’ affair.

"The second of these relates to Infantino’s promotion of a FIFA fan site for the 2026 men’s World Cup, which appears to have been part of a data-harvesting campaign run by entities linked to President Trump."

Infantino was elected to the International Olympic Committee in 2020 and is obliged to adhere to strict rules on political neutrality.

However, the IOC says that the complaint in question from FairSquare will not allow them to investigate the FIFA President as it would be out of their scope.

"The current complaint, with regard to the FIFA president, refers only to the international federation's decisions on its governance and its management, including its relations with government, and to the international federation's implementation of the rules of its sport, which are both outside the scope of application of the IOC code of ethics," it said in a statement.

Another complaint coming

As well as a potential investigation by the European Parliament, Infantino will need to contend with an official complaint made to FIFA's Ethics Committee by the Norwegian FA.

Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness told The Times: “When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk. It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game.

“First of all, it should not have happened. It is very important now to have honest communication around it. We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process.

“We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error.

“If you start to adapt in such a way towards state leaders and state politics, you will move your behaviour and the organisation’s behaviour, and also the red line of what states’ leaders should interfere with. And that happened.”

The NFF President added: “When you make controversial decisions, and when there has been an external, very powerful voice in your ear, it’s very important that you have more voices [making the decision]. And if you don’t, it’s a mistake.

“This case was so serious and so worrying that I hope that it might contribute to bring people out a little bit and don’t fear to bring up cases. I will bring it to a board meeting and discuss with my board, and then we do it. To me, it should be in the same sphere of ethical complaint.”

Klaveness said she is “disappointed but not necessarily surprised” about FIFA's lack of communication or acknowledgement of the issues that came with the decision to overturn the suspension.

“To try to sweep this under the carpet now will not fly,” she continued. “Too many felt this … coaches, players, fans … that this was too close to the game.”

The United States went on to lose the match to Belgium anyway, being eliminated as co-hosts in the last 16.

Klaveness also previously demanded the scrapping of the FIFA 'Peace Prize' which was awarded to Trump from Infantino at the World Cup draw in December.