Jul 8, 2026 6:20 PM EDT
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA's president Gianni Infantino is being referred to Olympic ethics investigators for a possible breach of political neutrality, a human rights group said Wednesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump helped block a World Cup player's ban.
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Trump took credit Monday for FIFA's decision — unprecedented in modern World Cup history — to let United States forward Folarin Balogun play Monday against Belgium despite getting a red card in the team's previous game. A Belgium team clearly fired up by the furor won 4-1 in Seattle.
The IOC cites neutrality among "fundamental principles of Olympism" for sports bodies like FIFA, and has jurisdiction over Infantino since he joined its exclusive group of 100-plus invited members in 2020.
