IOC declines to investigate Infantino over World Cup red-card reversal

The International Olympic Committee said on Friday it will not investigate FIFA president Gianni Infantino over allegations that he breached political neutrality rules in connection with the reversal of a red card at the 2026 World Cup, declaring the complaint falls outside the jurisdiction of its Ethics Commission.reuters+1

The Complaint

London-based human rights group FairSquare filed a formal complaint with the IOC on July 14, alleging that Infantino — who has been an IOC member since 2020 — "repeatedly breached the IOC's rules on political neutrality by offering his political support for the President of the United States, Donald Trump." The complaint cited what FairSquare described as five clear breaches and two further serious breaches warranting investigation.fairsq+1

The filing stemmed from a controversy during the World Cup in which U.S. forward Folarin Balogun's one-match suspension, issued after a red card in a round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, was reversed under FIFA's disciplinary code. Infantino acknowledged receiving a call from Trump, who publicly lobbied for Balogun to play, but said he did not interfere with the decision-making process.taipeitimes+1

IOC's Response

An IOC spokesperson told Reuters and AFP on Friday that the matter was outside the Ethics Commission's purview. "The complaint falls outside the IOC Ethics Commission's jurisdiction. FairSquare has been informed accordingly," the spokesperson said. According to the Associated Press, the IOC determined the complaint did not relate to Infantino's specific relations with the Olympic body, meaning no formal investigation will be opened.sports.yahoo+3

The decision effectively shields Infantino from scrutiny by the Olympic ethics apparatus, leaving FairSquare without a clear enforcement avenue. The Washington Post reported that Infantino "will not have to explain to the Olympic body how U.S. President Donald Trump helped to stop a player's ban at the World Cup."washingtonpost

Background

FairSquare first announced its intention to file the complaint on July 8, framing it as a test of whether the IOC would hold its own members accountable for political entanglements. The organization argued that Infantino's relationship with Trump extended beyond the Balogun episode to a broader pattern of political alignment incompatible with the Olympic Charter's neutrality requirements.pbs+1