European lawmakers have called for an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino following the governing body’s controversial decision to reverse the World Cup suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun, amid concerns that pressure from US President Donald Trump may have influenced the outcome.
According to Euronews, a group of Members of the European Parliament on Tuesday launched an initiative seeking a formal investigation into Infantino’s involvement in the decision.
A letter circulating within the European Parliament also urged football associations across the European Union to request a FIFA review of how the decision was reached and whether any political interference played a role.
Balogun, the United States’ leading scorer at the tournament, was sent off during his side’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1. Under FIFA regulations, the red card should have triggered an automatic one-match suspension.
However, FIFA overturned the suspension ahead of the United States’ Round of 16 clash against Belgium on Monday after Trump, who has maintained a longstanding relationship with Infantino, contacted the FIFA president.
FIFA maintained that the decision was taken independently by its disciplinary committee.
The move marked the first time in modern World Cup history that a player shown a red card during the tournament avoided the mandatory suspension.
Europe’s football governing body, UEFA, described the decision as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”.
Trump later admitted he had asked FIFA to reconsider Balogun’s case, describing the dismissal as “horrible”, while insisting he neither instructed Infantino on what decision to make nor expected a specific outcome.
“I think it [the suspension] would have left a big stain,” Trump said, adding that the US and Belgium should each have their best players available for their match.
Despite Balogun’s availability, the United States suffered a 4-1 defeat to Belgium and exited the World Cup.
Reacting to the controversy, European Parliament lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang issued a joint statement condemning FIFA’s action.
“FIFA’s decision to change the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice.”
“Once again, we’ve seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration,” said the statement by the lawmakers, who added that 35 colleagues have so far joined their petition.
“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,” they said.
Infantino defended his conversation with Trump, insisting he made it clear that the issue was handled solely by FIFA’s independent judicial bodies.
“That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold,” said Infantino.
The Swiss football administrator has built close ties with Trump in recent years, including presenting the US president with the newly created “FIFA Peace Prize” last year.
