EU lawmakers urge FIFA probe over Trump’s role in Balogun ban reversal

Members of the European Parliament have launched a campaign demanding an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino over the reversal of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension, a decision that came after President Donald Trump personally called the FIFA chief during the World Cup.

MEPs Target Infantino

A letter circulating in the European Parliament on Tuesday asks the 55 national football associations affiliated with UEFA to formally request that FIFA investigate the decision-making process behind the lifting of Balogun's one-match ban. MEPs Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters, and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement that FIFA's decision to "change the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice".eunews

"Once again, we've seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration," the statement said.

The letter asks national associations to push FIFA's Ethics Committee to investigate whether pressure from the Trump administration influenced the decision, as well as "other potential breaches of political neutrality," including the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump in 2025. The initiative marks the first time European lawmakers have sought to pressure FIFA over decisions taken during an ongoing World Cup.eunews

The Balogun Controversy

Balogun received a straight red card during the U.S. team's 2-0 Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, which normally carries an automatic one-match suspension. On Sunday, after Trump called Infantino to urge a review of the case, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee invoked Article 27 of its code to suspend the ban for a one-year probationary period, allowing Balogun to play in Monday's Round of 16 match against Belgium.sports.yahoo+1

UEFA condemned the move as "unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable," saying FIFA had "crossed a red line". European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef said decisions on sporting matters "belong to sporting bodies, not politicians," adding, "As a fan, I too believe it was the wrong decision".reuters+3

Transatlantic Fallout

The controversy has deepened tensions between the U.S. and European allies. The New York Times reported it was the first time since 1962 that FIFA nullified a suspension for a red card received during the World Cup. Belgium's football association said it was "astonished" and explored legal options before FIFA denied its appeal.nytimes+2

The episode comes amid broader scrutiny of Infantino's relationship with Trump, following the earlier letter from 50 MEPs demanding an ethics probe into the FIFA Peace Prize awarded to the U.S. president.arabnews+1