Published On 7/8/2026
Dozens of European lawmakers are seeking to mobilize support to open an investigation in the European Parliament into the Swiss President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, regarding his involvement in the decision to allow American striker Folarin Balogun to play despite receiving a previous red card.
Balogun received a red card during the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, in the round of 32 of the World Cup, currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, which would have prevented him from participating in the American team’s next match against Belgium. However, FIFA lifted his suspension from the match that was held, at dawn on Tuesday, after US President Donald Trump intervened with Infantino in favor of the 25-year-old striker.
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After a phone call between Trump and Infantino, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to suspend the punishment for a year.
Infantino stated that he had no role in the decision of the Disciplinary Committee, which imposed a fine on Balogun of $40,000, a fine that could be paid by the US Soccer Federation.
Members of the European Parliament Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Vogelsang said in a joint statement that FIFA’s decision to “change the rule for suspensions for red cards in the middle of the tournament is a disgrace and a distortion of justice.”
“Once again, we have seen Infantino and FIFA capitulate to the demands of the Trump administration,” the statement read.
The legislators called on the national football federations in the European Union countries to ask the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino, and whether pressure from the Trump administration contributed to lifting the suspension of the American player, in addition to “other possible violations of political neutrality,” such as awarding the President of the United States the FIFA Peace Prize.
The lawmakers reported that 35 of their colleagues had signed the letter so far, saying: “The beauty of sport is that it is based on fair and transparent rules. When Infantino allows political pressures to determine who is allowed to play, this sense of fairness completely disappears.”
FIFA’s decision prompted soccer leaders to question the integrity of the World Cup tournament, with the European Football Association (UEFA) saying that FIFA had “crossed a red line,” and the Belgian Football Association filing an appeal against Balogun’s eligibility to participate with the American national team.
