​Dozens of European Parliament members have urged an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s involvement in the decision to lift the red-card ban on an American player after a call from President Donald Trump. In a letter addressed to the presidents of the EU’s football associations, 72 European lawmakers on Wednesday pressed for a probe into Infantino’s potential role and whether U.S. government pressure influenced the outcome. The lawmakers stressed that national associations play a crucial part in upholding rules and ensuring accountability for breaches, and they urged these bodies to join recent calls for scrutiny of Infantino’s ties to President Trump. They also emphasized that the FIFA Statutes and the Code of Ethics require political neutrality, citing an article that obliges FIFA to remain neutral in political and religious matters.
The controversy centers on U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, who received a red card in the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, ruling him out of that game and potentially the next. In a surprising move, FIFA suspended the one-match ban days later, allowing Balogun to play in the subsequent round against Belgium, where the United States was eliminated. FIFA argued that it has broad discretion under its disciplinary code to “fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
Trump acknowledged to reporters that he had called Infantino after the round of 32 game and asked for a review, later posting on Truth Social to thank the organization for “doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice.” Infantino confirmed the call and said he spoke with Trump, but he denied any involvement in the decision to overturn Balogun’s red-card ban. In a statement released through FIFA, Infantino explained that an ongoing legal process before FIFA’s independent judicial bodies would determine the case in due course, underscoring that this is how FIFA’s system operates and reaffirming his commitment to uphold that principle. He also noted that he had seen a surge of public comments regarding the decision from various soccer associations across Europe.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the governing body for European soccer, stated that the reversal of the decision was a matter of concern. The association indicated that the decision had “crossed lines” and drew attention to the need for neutrality and consistent application of disciplinary rules. UEFA’s response suggested that the reversal could undermine the integrity of the sport by raising questions about external influence in disciplinary matters. As the debate continues, lawmakers, officials, and fans alike are calling for clarity on the process, the independence of FIFA’s judicial bodies, and the precise role — if any — that political figures played in the reversal of Balogun’s ban. The situation underscores ongoing tensions over governance, transparency, and the safeguarding of the sport’s integrity on the world stage.