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SportsIOC declines to investigate FIFA President Infantino, says political neutrality complaint outside its scope
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has declined to investigate FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that a complaint against him falls outside its scope. The complaint, filed by human rights group FairSquare, alleged that Infantino breached the Olympic charter by failing to adhere to rules on political neutrality through expressions of support for US President Donald Trump. The controversy stems from Trump's intervention during the World Cup, when he called Infantino to request a review of a red card given to US striker Folarin Balogun. The one-match ban was subsequently suspended for 12 months, allowing Balogun to play in the last-16 match against Belgium, which Belgium won 4-1. The IOC stated the complaint relates to FIFA's governance and management, not the IOC's ethics code. Separately, the Norwegian Football Federation is considering filing a formal complaint to FIFA's ethics committee about the decision to suspend Balogun's ban.
Source report
Image caption: President Trump called Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino during the World Cup to ask for a review of US striker Folarin Balogun's red card
By Jane Dougall, BBC Sports correspondent
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced it will not investigate Gianni Infantino, stating that a complaint against the Fifa president falls outside its scope.
Human rights campaign group FairSquare had filed a complaint with the IOC, alleging that Infantino breached the Olympic charter by failing to adhere to rules on political neutrality "through statements or other clear expressions of support for the US president".
Background
US President Donald Trump admitted during the World Cup that he had called Infantino to request a review of a red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun.
- Balogun was expected to miss the US side's last-16 tie against Belgium after being sent off during their 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- Following Trump's intervention, the one-match ban was suspended for 12 months.
- No reason was given for the suspension, beyond citing a rule that allows punishments to be suspended.
- Balogun started the match, which Belgium won 4-1.
IOC's Response
Infantino has been a member of the IOC since 2020.
Section two of the Olympic charter states: "Members of the IOC will not accept from governments, organisations, or other parties, any mandate or instructions liable to interfere with the freedom of their action and vote."
The IOC said the complaint against Infantino fell outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission.
"The current complaint, with regard to the Fifa president, refers only to the international federation's decisions on its governance and its management, including its relations with government, and to the international federation's implementation of the rules of its sport, which are both outside the scope of application of the IOC code of ethics," it said.
Further Developments
The IOC statement came a day after it emerged that the Norwegian Football Federation was considering filing a formal complaint to Fifa's ethics committee about the decision to suspend Balogun's automatic one-match ban.
In a statement provided to the BBC, NFF president Lise Klaveness said the federation had reacted with "strong concern" and a decision on whether to make a complaint would be made at its next board meeting.
The federation has already filed a complaint about Fifa's first Peace Prize being awarded to Trump.
Fifa has been contacted for comment.
Related Topics
- Football
Source
BBC SportWestern
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