Over 70 European lawmakers have called for an investigation into FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino regarding the principle of political neutrality, talkSPORT reports.
Infantino has faced huge backlash in recent days, following the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card ban ahead of the USA’s round of 16 World Cup exit to Belgium.
US striker Balogun had been due to sit out his side’s knockout clash, after he was shown a straight red card in their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round.
But he was given a reprieve after the US president Donald Trump called FIFA chief Infantino asking for the sending-off to be reviewed.
Balogun subsequently had his one-match ban suspended for 12 months – sparking widespread uproar, not least once it became clear Trump himself had lobbied FIFA.
The president confirmed that he had called Infantino – with whom he shares a close relationship – asking for the ban to be reviewed, describing the red card as a ‘great injustice’.
Before the match, Belgium appealed the decision but it was rejected by FIFA, although this ultimately had little impact on the game itself.
Also Read: World Cup 2026: UEFA Slams FIFA’s Decision To Rescind Balogun’s Red Card
Co-hosts USA were dumped out of the World Cup as they were hammered 4-1 by the Red Devils, but the backlash has rumbled on.
In the wake of huge criticism, Infantino defended his role in the decision to grant Balogun a reprieve, where he denied political interference in the decision.
He said: “FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them.
“During our conversation (with President Trump), I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies.
“That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”
