Dozens of members of the European Parliament have called for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s role in the decision to suspend the red card ban on an American player following a call from President Donald Trump.
In a letter to the presidents of the European Union football associations, 72 European lawmakers on Wednesday pressed them to lend their voices to the push for a probe into whether Infantino was involved—and whether “pressure from the US Administration was a factor in the decision.”
“Member associations have an important role to play in ensuring that rules are upheld and that those who break them are held accountable,” the group of European lawmakers wrote. “In that regard, we urge you to add your voice to recent calls in support of an investigation into Gianni Infantino’s links to President Trump.”
They underlined that the “requirement of political neutrality is clearly outlined in both the FIFA Statutes and the Code of Ethics,” pointing to an article requiring that “FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion.”
U.S. striker Folarin Balogun was given a red card last week during the Americans’ round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a call that put the team’s lead scorer in the tournament out for the rest of that game and was set to bar him from participating in their next one as well.
In a controversial decision, however, FIFA suspended that one-match ban days later and Balogun was permitted to play in the next round against Belgium, where the U.S. team was ultimately eliminated. FIFA cited a portion of its disciplinary code that gives the organization broad discretion to “fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
Trump confirmed to reporters that he had called Infantino following the round of 32 game and asked for a review of the matter, and later posted on Truth Social thanking the organization for “doing what was right, and reversing a gr
