Why IOC won't investigate Infantino over Trump's role in Balogun red-card controversy
The International Olympic Committee has declined to investigate FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding his role in reversing a red-card suspension for US player Folarin Balogun after a call from Donald Trump. The IOC stated the matter falls outside its jurisdiction as it pertains to FIFA's internal governance.
Why it matters
The incident highlights concerns regarding political interference in international sports governance and the limits of oversight bodies like the IOC.
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…
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in