The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided not to investigate claims that FIFA president Gianni Infantino violated Olympic rules regarding political neutrality in his interactions with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
This announcement follows a complaint submitted to the IOC by the human rights organization FairSquare earlier this month, which cited FIFA’s choice to postpone a suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun after Trump personally urged Infantino to reconsider the red card issued to Balogun.
While Infantino is a member of the IOC, a spokesperson from the organization stated that the complaint pertained to FIFA’s governance, which led the ethics commission to determine it lacked the jurisdiction to proceed with an investigation.
A spokesperson for the IOC mentioned, “The IOC ethics commission conducted a comprehensive review of FairSquare’s complaint.” They noted that according to the Olympic Charter, each international federation (IF) operates independently and autonomously. The IOC Code of Ethics applies specifically to interactions between the IOC and the international federations and their officials.
The commission concluded that the complaint, particularly regarding FIFA’s president, solely pertained to the decisions and governance of the IF, including its interactions with the government and the enforcement of its sports regulations, which are beyond the IOC code’s jurisdiction.
As a result, the complaint does not fall within the IOC ethics commission’s authority, and FairSquare has been notified accordingly.
In addition to this matter, the IOC has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing good governance throughout the Olympic Movement and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of its constituent organizations.
FairSquare has been reached out to for commentary on the situation.
Previously, in December, FairSquare lodged a separate complaint against Infantino with FIFA’s ethics committee, highlighting four instances where they claimed he publicly endorsed Trump’s actions and policies.
This complaint also requested an investigation into Infantino’s role in the introduction of a FIFA Peace Prize and its awarding to Trump during the 2026 World Cup draw, questioning the adherence to FIFA’s procedural rules.
FairSquare reported receiving an acknowledgment of their complaint from FIFA’s ethics committee but has not received further updates since then, which was submitted prior to the backlash surrounding the Balogun situation.
On July 5, FIFA’s disciplinary committee announced the suspension of Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, with Trump disclosing the next day that he had personally advocated for Infantino to reconsider the decision.
Infantino has claimed that FIFA’s committees operate independently, yet the disciplinary committee has not provided specific reasons for the suspension of the ban, leading to reports that the decision was made unilaterally by committee chair Mohammad Al Kamali.
UEFA responded by describing the Balogun decision as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable,” with its president Aleksander Ceferin reportedly choosing to abstain from attending the recent final in protest over various concerns regarding FIFA’s governance.