European Union lawmakers have called for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino following his decision to lift a red card suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun after pressure from President Donald Trump, according to multiple reports. The move, which allowed Balogun to play in the U.S. team’s match against Belgium, has sparked accusations of political interference and breaches of FIFA’s code of conduct.
The Red Card Controversy and Political Pressure
Balogun was shown a red card during the U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, which would typically bar him from the team’s next game. However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee lifted the suspension on Monday, just before the U.S. faced Belgium. Trump publicly claimed responsibility for the decision, stating, “I’m the one that got them to do it,” according to the Guardian. The U.S. lost 4-1 to Belgium, a result that some analysts linked to the controversy.
European Parliament lawmakers, including Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters, and Niels Fuglsang, condemned the decision as a “disgrace and a perversion of justice,” arguing that Infantino had “surrendered to the demands of the Trump administration.” Their statement, cited in the AP, called for an investigation into whether political pressure influenced FIFA’s ruling and whether the organization’s ethics committee had been properly consulted.
For more on this story, see Trump Intervenes: FIFA Clears US Striker Balogun After Presidential Call.
EU Lawmakers’ Demands for Accountability
The EU lawmakers’ push for an inquiry reflects growing frustration with FIFA’s governance. They specifically cited the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump in December, shortly before Trump started a war with tournament participant Iran, as a potential breach of political neutrality. “The commercial dimension is the bedrock of FIFA’s system of power. The money is used by the presidents to accumulate and consolidate their power,” said Miguel Maduro, a former chairman of FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee, in an interview with DW.
This follows our earlier report, Infantino Booed: Spain Rejects FIFA’s Controversial Proposal.
The lawmakers also demanded that FIFA’s Ethics Committee investigate whether the Trump administration’s involvement in the Balogun case violated the organization’s statutes, which prohibit political interference in disciplinary decisions.
FIFA’s Response and Broader Governance Issues
FIFA maintained that the suspension of Balogun was a decision made by its disciplinary committee, not Infantino personally. However, the organization’s handling of the incident has intensified scrutiny of its leadership. Infantino, who is seeking re-election in 2027, has faced criticism for his close ties to Trump, including the awarding of the Peace Prize and his role in securing the 2030 World Cup for a three-continent rotation that benefited Saudi Arabia’s 2034 bid.
Read also: Trump’s Interference Forces FIFA to Suspend Balogun’s Red-Card Ban Amid Political Backlash.
“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,” the EU lawmakers wrote in their statement.
Global Reactions and Implications
The incident has drawn international criticism, with some arguing that it undermines the integrity of global football. Belgian fans and players mocked the U.S. team’s defeat, with social media posts referencing Trump’s involvement. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called the situation “very, very embarrassing for the U.S.
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