New Delhi: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided not to investigate FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his role in the controversial reversal of US forward Folarin Balogun’s forced suspension from the World Cup following the US president’s intervention. Donald Trump.London-based human rights NGO FairSquare lodged a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s ethics committee earlier this month, accusing Infantino of breaching the Olympic movement’s political neutrality principle by helping ensure Balogun escaped an automatic one-match ban after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.However, the IOC said on Friday it did not have the authority to investigate the matter because the complaint related to FIFA’s governance and football regulations and not Infantino’s conduct as an IOC member.The Olympic body said in a statement that the complaint “relates solely to (FIFA’s) decisions on its governance and management, including its relations with governments, and (FIFA’s) enforcement of its sporting rules.”“The complaint therefore does not fall within the jurisdiction of the IOC Ethics Committee,” the statement added.The IOC’s ethics committee can only review matters related to officials’ duties within the Olympic Movement and has no independent authority to investigate outside that remit. Any recommendations it makes will be submitted to the IOC Executive Board, chaired by President Kirsty Coventry.
Data map: Brazilian referee Rafael Krause showed a red card to American player Folarin Balogun. (AP Photo)
Balog controversy draws growing attention
Controversy erupted after Balogun was shown a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, an offense that would traditionally result in a mandatory one-match suspension.However, after Trump called Infantino, FIFA postponed the suspension and allowed Balogun to play in the United States’ crucial World Cup match against Belgium. Trump later described the referee’s decision as a “horrible” penalty and publicly claimed that he persuaded FIFA to review the penalty decision.Although the U.S. ultimately lost 4-1 to Belgium, the unprecedented decision sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning whether political influence trumped long-standing sports regulations.Balogun’s ruling marks the first time in the World Cup’s sixty-year history that a mandatory suspension was not immediately enforced following a red card.
Norway considers FIFA ethics complaint
Although the International Olympic Committee has ruled out the matter, the pressure on FIFA is still increasing.The Norwegian Football Association confirmed that its board will consider making a formal ethics complaint against Infantino at its next meeting, expected on August 6.Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness, who also sits on UEFA’s executive committee, has been one of the strongest critics of FIFA’s handling of the case.“We all know that the verdict was influenced by outside forces and did not follow due process,” Klavness told The Times.“When you violate rules like this, you’re on a slippery slope that puts the entire game at risk,” she added.Cravenes also warned that compromising the “fundamental rules of the game” would threaten football’s credibility.Norway had previously lodged a separate complaint with Fair Square to FIFA’s ethics committee, accusing Infantino of breaching FIFA’s legal obligation to be politically neutral. The complaint also cited Infantino’s close relationship with Trump, including establishing a Peace Prize for the U.S. president during the World Cup draw in December.FIFA has yet to announce the disciplinary panel’s reasons for overturning Balogun’s suspension and, as is customary, has not commented publicly on ethics complaints.
