European lawmakers are rallying support for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s role in allowing U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to compete despite a prior red card. Balogun received the red card during the U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, which typically would disqualify him from playing in the next game. However, FIFA lifted his suspension for a Monday match following intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump on Balogun’s behalf.
In a joint statement, lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters, and Niels Fuglsang described FIFA’s decision to alter red card suspension rules mid-tournament as disgraceful and a perversion of justice. They accused Infantino and FIFA of succumbing to demands from Trump’s administration.
The lawmakers are urging EU national football associations to prompt the FIFA Ethics Committee to examine Infantino’s actions. The investigation would assess whether Trump’s influence affected the suspension lift and explore other potential breaches of political neutrality, such as awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.
FIFA stated that the decision to lift the suspension was made by a disciplinary committee.
So far, 35 lawmakers have signed the letter advocating for the inquiry. In their statement, the group emphasized that the integrity of sports relies on impartial and transparent rules. They argue that political pressure should not determine player eligibility, as it undermines the fairness of the game.
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