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IOC makes stance clear on Infantino investigation following Trump-Balogun World Cup controversy
The IOC has opted not to investigate FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding his conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Folarin Balogun controversy -Credit:ANP, ANP via Getty Images
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) declared that it will not be initiating an inquiry into FIFA president Gianni Infantino's conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Folarin Balogun's ability to play in the World Cup Round of 16.
Earlier this month, FIFA authorities revealed they would suspend Balogun's red-card ban from his tackle on Tarik Muharemovic during the U.S. Men's National Team's 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup Round of 32. Trump seemed to have substantially swayed the governing body's about-face , collaborating with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House task force leader Andrew Giuliani to coordinate legal counsel contesting the penalty.
Trump subsequently contacted Infantino directly , informing him that an appeal had been submitted while expressing his objection to the red card ruling. After their phone conversation, human rights organization FairSquare claimed in an official complaint to the IOC that Infantino breached political neutrality requirements and the Olympic Charter, via The Mirror US .
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The official complaint outlined five alleged breaches of the IOC's political neutrality principles, alongside "prima facie" evidence of two further serious violations - one involving the Balogun situation.
However, the IOC announced on Friday that it will not be launching a formal probe, as FairSquare's complaint didn't relate to FIFA or Infantino's particular connections to the Olympic organization. "The commission noticed that, pursuant to the Olympic Charter each International Federation (IF) maintains its independence and autonomy in its governance," a statement read.
"The IOC Code of Ethics' scope of application vis-a-vis the International Federations and their officials is specifically limited to their relations with the IOC.
"The IOC Ethics Commission noted that the current complaint, including with regard to the FIFA President, refers only to the IF's decisions on its governance and its management, including its relations with government, and to the IF's implementation of the rules of its sport, which are both outside the scope of application of the IOC Code of Ethics.
"Consequently, the complaint falls outside the IOC Ethics Commission's jurisdiction. FairSquare has been informed accordingly."
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This is not the first time FairSquare has taken aim at Infantino. Back in December, the organization lodged a separate complaint with FIFA's ethics committee, triggered by Trump's receipt of the notorious Peace Prize, which was acknowledged but ultimately led to no further action.
Last month, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) ramped up the pressure by submitting a formal written request for FIFA's ethics committee to review FairSquare's complaint.
In addition, 50 members of the European Parliament called on the committee to take up the concerns that had been raised. In a recent interview with The Times , Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness disclosed her plans to ask her board to launch a formal ethics complaint over the management of Balogun's red-card suspension.
"We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error," she said.
"If you start to adapt in such a way towards state leaders and state politics, you will move your behavior and the organization's behavior and also the red line of what states' leaders should interfere with. And that happened."
IOCInfantinoTrumpBalogun World CupThe IOCFairSquareFIFA President Gianni InfantinoU.SPresident Donald TrumpFolarin BalogunCreditANP
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