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Infantino faces European Parliament, IOC probes over Balogun controversy

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces potential investigations from the European Parliament and the International Olympic Committee over a controversial decision regarding a player's red card.
  • European lawmakers are demanding an inquiry into whether political pressure influenced FIFA's decision to overturn a suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.
  • A human rights organization is also filing a complaint with the IOC, citing alleged violations of political neutrality principles by FIFA.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under mounting pressure as European lawmakers threaten to launch an investigation into his role in a controversial decision concerning U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. The controversy erupted after FIFA overturned a red card suspension for Balogun, allowing him to play despite a previous dismissal.

Dozens of members of the European Parliament have rallied support for an inquiry, viewing FIFA's decision to alter suspension rules mid-tournament as a "disgrace" and a "perversion of justice." They are urging national football associations within the EU to push the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate potential pressure from the Trump administration on Infantino. The lawmakers also question other alleged violations of political neutrality, including the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump.

FIFA's decision to change the rules regarding red card suspensions in the middle of a tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice.

— Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters, and Niels FuglsangThree members of the European Parliament issued a joint statement criticizing FIFA's handling of Folarin Balogun's suspension.

FIFA, however, maintains that the decision to lift Balogun's suspension was made by its Disciplinary Committee, not by the president personally. Despite this assertion, the scrutiny intensifies as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also looms. As an IOC member since 2020, Infantino is bound by the Olympic principle of political neutrality for international sports organizations.

Adding to the pressure, the London-based human rights organization FairSquare announced it will file a formal complaint with the IOC Ethics Commission. The organization alleges repeated breaches of political neutrality principles by FIFA. While IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated no official complaints have been received yet, she assured that any incoming reports would be processed according to established procedures.

The beauty of sport is that sport is based on impartial and transparent rules. When Infantino allows political pressure to determine who can play, that sense of justice is lost.

— European lawmakersLegislators expressed their concerns about the integrity of sports when political influence is perceived to be a factor in decision-making.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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