New Delhi: FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing renewed scrutiny after human rights organisation FairSquare announced that it will file a complaint with the International Olympic Committee, alleging that he breached political neutrality rules through his public support for US President Donald Trump.
The development follows controversy surrounding FIFA’s decision to overturn a one match suspension imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had been sent off during the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 and was initially handed a one match ban. However, following interventions by Trump and legal representatives of US Soccer, FIFA rescinded the red card under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, allowing the forward to feature in the Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
FairSquare argues that Infantino’s repeated public support for Trump amounts to a violation of Article 15 of FIFA’s Code of Ethics, which requires football officials to maintain political neutrality in their official roles. The organisation said it had already submitted a complaint to FIFA’s Ethics Committee in December 2025 but has yet to receive any indication that a formal investigation has begun.
The complaint also questions the process behind FIFA’s decision to introduce an annual Peace Prize and award its inaugural honour to Trump before the tournament draw. FairSquare has called for an investigation into whether the decision was approved by FIFA’s Council or taken solely by Infantino. It argues that if the decision was made without the required statutory authority, it could amount to a serious abuse of power.
Under FIFA’s ethics regulations, breaches of political neutrality can attract financial penalties of at least 10,000 Swiss francs and bans from football related activities.
Meanwhile, IOC President Kirsty Coventry said no complaint had yet reached the committee’s ethics commission but confirmed that any submission received would be examined in accordance with its procedures. The matter now awaits potential review by both FIFA’s Ethics Committee and the IOC.
