'Perversion of justice': Politicians launch bid to investigate FIFA boss

A group of European Parliament politicians is building support to launch an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The move follows questions raised about the overturning of a red card for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, which normally would have made him ineligible for the next World Cup match.

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change the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice.

Balogun was sent off during the U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1. However, FIFA lifted his suspension for the subsequent match against Belgium after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly intervened with Infantino on behalf of the 25-year-old player. European Parliament politicians Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters, and Niels Fuglsang described FIFA's decision to alter the red card suspension rules mid-tournament as "a disgrace and a perversion of justice."

In a joint statement, the politicians accused Infantino and FIFA of surrendering to the demands of the Trump administration. They are urging the national football associations of EU countries to push the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino. The investigation would focus on whether pressure from the Trump administration influenced the decision to lift the suspension, as well as "other potential breaches of political neutrality," such as awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.

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Once again, we've seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration.

So far, 35 colleagues have signed a letter supporting the call for an investigation. The politicians argue that when Infantino allows political pressure to dictate who plays, the fundamental sense of fairness in sports is undermined. FIFA has stated that the lifting of the suspension was a decision made by a disciplinary committee.

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The beauty of sport is that it is based on impartial and transparent rules. When Infantino allows political pressure to determine who gets to play, this sense of fairness goes out the window.