IOC Ethics Commission called on to investigate Gianni Infantino following FairSquare referral
July 9 – As pressure continues to mount on FIFA President Gianni Infantino following a series of controversial incidents, non-governmental organisation (NGO) FairSquare has called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Ethics Commission investigation into an alleged breach of political neutrality.
It follows FIFA’s decision to suspend a one-match ban for United States forward Folarin Balogun following a red card in his country’s FIFA World Cup Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina – the player allowed to participate in the Round of 16 defeat to Belgium in unprcendent circumstances.
The decision has brought uproar across the globe. 72 European Union members have called for a formal investigation into his conduct, UEFA released a scathing attack of FIFA’s decision, and now FairSquare are set to file a complaint with the IOC.
“FairSquare will file a complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s repeated breach of political neutrality rules,” said the NGO confirmed in a statement.
Last Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had asked FIFA and its number one Infantino to review a red-card suspension for U.S. player Balogun. FIFA reviewed the decision, allowed the striker to play and thereby undermined the sporting integrity of its own flagship competition.
IOC rules cite neutrality among the core principles of ‘Olympism’. Since 2020, the FIFA President has been a member of the IOC.
It’s not the first time that FairSquare is seeking to hold Infantino accountable. In December, the NGO also launched a complaint at the FIFA ethics committee for alleged breaches of political neutrality by Infantino, in particular over awarding the Peace Prize to Trump.
That complaint has garnered support from the Norwegian Football Federation as well as from at least 50 Members of the European Parliament.
Fifa has been contacted for comment.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at [email protected]
