NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided not to pursue an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his role in the controversial reversal of United States forward Folarin Balogun’s mandatory World Cup suspension following intervention by US President Donald Trump.The decision comes after London-based human rights NGO FairSquare lodged a formal complaint with the IOC Ethics Commission earlier this month, alleging that Infantino breached the Olympic movement’s principle of political neutrality by helping ensure Balogun escaped an automatic one-match ban after his red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina.However, the IOC said on Friday that it does not have jurisdiction to investigate the matter because the complaint relates to FIFA’s governance and football regulations rather than Infantino’s conduct as an IOC member.In a statement, the Olympic body said the complaint “refers only to (FIFA’s) decisions on its governance and its management, including its relations with government, and to (FIFA’s) implementation of the rules of its sport.”“Consequently, the complaint falls outside the IOC ethics commission’s jurisdiction,” the statement added.The IOC’s Ethics Commission can only examine issues connected to an official’s responsibilities within the Olympic Movement and does not have independent powers to launch investigations outside that remit. Any recommendations it makes are submitted to the IOC Executive Board, chaired by president Kirsty Coventry.
File Pic: Referee Raphael Claus of Brazil shows a red card to United States’ Folarin Balogun. (AP Photo)
Balogun controversy sparks growing scrutiny
The controversy erupted after Balogun was shown a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina, an offence that traditionally carries a mandatory one-match suspension.Following a phone call from Trump to Infantino, however, FIFA deferred the suspension, allowing Balogun to feature in the United States’ crucial World Cup clash against Belgium. Trump later described the referee’s decision as a “horrible” call and publicly claimed credit for persuading FIFA to review the punishment.Although the United States went on to lose 1-4 to Belgium, the unprecedented decision has triggered widespread criticism, with many questioning whether political influence had overridden long-standing sporting regulations.The Balogun ruling marked the first known instance in six decades of World Cup history where a mandatory suspension following a red card was not immediately enforced.
Norway mulls FIFA ethics complaint
While the IOC has ruled itself out of the matter, pressure continues to mount on FIFA.The Norwegian Football Federation confirmed that its board will consider filing a formal ethics complaint against Infantino at its next meeting, expected on August 6.Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness, who also serves on UEFA’s executive committee, has been among the strongest critics of FIFA’s handling of the case.“We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process,” Klaveness told The Times.“When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,” she added.Klaveness also warned that compromising “fundamental rules of the game” threatens football’s credibility.Norway had previously joined FairSquare in filing a separate complaint with FIFA’s own ethics committee, alleging that Infantino breached FIFA’s statutory obligation of political neutrality. That complaint also cites Infantino’s close ties with Trump, including the creation of a peace prize for the U.S. president during the World Cup draw in December.FIFA has yet to publish the disciplinary panel’s reasoning behind Balogun’s suspension reversal, and, in keeping with its usual practice, has not publicly commented on the ethics complaints.
