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FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces ethics referral over Trump World Cup call

sportsJul 20, 2026715,989

FairSquare has filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee alleging FIFA president Gianni Infantino breached political neutrality after US President Donald Trump intervened to block a World Cup ban for United States forward Folarin Balogun. Trump publicly took credit for FIFA allowing Balogun to play against Belgium despite a red card in his previous match; Belgium then beat the United States 4-1 in Seattle to eliminate the hosts. The IOC has jurisdiction because Infantino joined its invited membership of more than 100 people in 2020, and IOC president Kirsty Coventry said the body would look into any formal complaint. FairSquare previously filed a separate complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee in December, a case supported by the Norway football federation and about 50 members of the European Parliament, and FIFA has given no update in seven months. Infantino has cultivated close ties to Trump since the 2018 World Cup hosting vote and has been a frequent White House visitor since attending Trump’s January 2025 inauguration; he created a FIFA Peace Prize that was awarded to Trump in December.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino was seen ushering Senile Satan away from the stage so that Spain could celebrate their World Cup victory. 🥴

149145d ago
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