FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to face scrutiny from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after a sports and human rights organisation announced plans to file an ethics complaint over an alleged breach of political neutrality.
The move follows controversy surrounding FIFA’s decision to allow United States striker Folarin Balogun to feature against Belgium despite receiving a red card in the team’s previous match.
The issue gained further attention after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly stated that he intervened in the matter, saying he played a role in FIFA’s decision to permit Balogun to play.
The decision drew criticism from football stakeholders and fans, while Belgium responded on the pitch with a convincing 4-1 victory over the United States in Seattle.
According to the International Olympic Committee, political neutrality is one of the core principles of the Olympic Movement. Infantino falls under the IOC’s ethical framework because he has been a member of the organisation’s invited membership since 2020.
London-based sports and human rights organisation FairSquare said it would submit a formal complaint to the IOC Ethics Commission, accusing the FIFA president of repeatedly failing to uphold the principle of political neutrality.
The announcement came a day after IOC President Kirsty Coventry said no official complaint had yet been received regarding the incident.
Speaking during an online press briefing, Coventry said the IOC would review any complaint submitted through the appropriate process.
She also confirmed that the Olympic body had been monitoring developments surrounding the controversy, particularly concerns over alleged political influence on decisions affecting international football competitions.
The incident has intensified debate over the independence of global sporting organisations and the importance of protecting sporting decisions from political interference, especially with the United States preparing to co-host the FIFA World Cup and stage the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
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