Why IOC won’t investigate Gianni Infantino over Donald Trump’s role in Folarin Balogun red card controversy

File Photo: FIFA President Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided not to proceed with the investigation of FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his role in the controversial overturning of United States striker Folarin Balogun’s mandatory World Cup suspension following US President Donald Trump’s intervention.The decision comes after London-based human rights NGO FairSquare filed a formal complaint with the IOC’s Ethics Commission earlier this month, alleging that Infantino breached the Olympic movement’s principle of political neutrality by helping to ensure that Balogun escaped an automatic one-match ban after receiving a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.However, the IOC said on Friday that it did not have the authority to investigate the matter because the complaint was about FIFA’s governance and football regulations rather than Infantino’s conduct as an IOC member.In a statement, the Olympic body said the complaint “concerns only (FIFA’s) decisions about its governance and management, including its relations with the government, and (FIFA’s) implementation of the rules of its sport.”“Consequently, the complaint does not fall within the jurisdiction of the IOC Ethics Commission,” the statement added.The IOC Ethics Commission can only investigate issues related to the responsibility of an official within the Olympic Movement and does not have independent powers to open investigations outside this area. Any recommendations it makes are submitted to the IOC Executive Board, which is chaired by President Kirsty Coventry.

File Pic: Referee Raphael Claus of Brazil shows a red card to Folarin Balogun of USA. (AP photo)

The Balogun controversy will spur more and more attention

Controversy erupted after Balogun received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, an offense that traditionally carries a mandatory one-match ban.However, after a phone call from Trump to Infantino, FIFA lifted the suspension and allowed Balogun to feature in the United States’ key World Cup clash against Belgium. Trump later called the referee’s decision a “horrible” call and publicly claimed credit for persuading FIFA to review the penalty.Although the United States lost 1–4 to Belgium, the unprecedented decision drew widespread criticism, with many questioning whether political influence outweighed long-standing sporting regulations.The decision in Balogun marked the first known instance in six decades of World Cup history where a mandatory red card suspension was not immediately applied.

Norway is considering a FIFA ethics complaint

While the IOC has recused itself from the matter, pressure on FIFA continues to mount.The Norwegian Football Association has confirmed that its board will consider filing a formal ethics complaint against Infantino at its next meeting, expected on August 6.Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness, who also serves on UEFA’s executive committee, has been among the strongest critics of FIFA’s handling of the case.“We all know that this verdict was influenced by outside forces and there was no due process,” Klaveness told The Times.“When you bend the rule like that, you’re on a slippery slope that puts the whole game at risk,” she added.Klaveness also warned that compromising the “fundamental rules of the game” threatened football’s credibility.Norway had previously joined FairSquare in filing a separate complaint with FIFA’s own ethics commission, which claimed Infantino had breached FIFA’s legal duty of political neutrality. The complaint also cites Infantino’s close ties to Trump, including the creation of a peace prize for the US president during the World Cup draw in December.FIFA has not yet released the disciplinary committee’s reasoning behind overturning Balogun’s suspension and, in line with its usual practice, has not commented publicly on the ethics complaint.