The International Olympic Committee announced it will not pursue an investigation into Fifa president Gianni Infantino after receiving a complaint from human rights organization FairSquare. The group alleged that Infantino violated the Olympic Charter by failing to maintain political neutrality through statements or expressions of support for the US president.
The complaint centered on circumstances surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension during recent World Cup proceedings. Trump acknowledged calling Infantino to request a review of a red card issued to Balogun following a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The player was initially expected to miss his team’s last-16 fixture against Belgium but ultimately started that contest after his one-match ban was suspended for 12 months, with no official reasoning provided beyond reference to applicable suspension rules. Belgium won the match 4-1.
The IOC determined that the complaint fell outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission. The committee stated that the matter concerned decisions by an international sports federation regarding its governance, management, and relations with governments, as well as implementation of sporting rules—all areas outside the scope of the IOC code of ethics.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian Football Federation indicated it was considering filing a separate formal complaint with Fifa’s ethics committee regarding the suspension decision. NFF president Lise Klaveness said the federation had responded with “strong concern” and would make a final determination at its next board meeting. The Norwegian federation has previously lodged a complaint about Fifa’s awarding of its inaugural Peace Prize to Trump.
Infantino has served as an IOC member since 2020.
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