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The International Olympic Committee announced Friday that it will not investigate Gianni Infantino regarding President Donald Trump’s call to him over Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card.
The USMNT star received a red card in the Round of 16 of the World Cup, which initially ruled him out of action in the next round.
However, FIFA decided to suspend the red card, making Balogun eligible. Trump later said he called Infantino and asked for a review, but FIFA claimed it was not influenced by Trump.
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President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the FIFA World Cup Winners’ Trophy before handing it over to Spain captain Rodri at the awards ceremony following the FIFA World Cup 2026 final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The ruling added to what was already a huge controversy as it was argued that Balogun should not have been red carded in the first place. Nevertheless, Balogun was active despite an appeal and a strong reaction from Belgium.
A London-based NGO formally complained this month to the IOC’s ethics commission about Infantino. The IOC’s Olympic Charter cites neutrality among “fundamental principles of Olympism” for sports bodies such as FIFA and its more than 100 members, which have included Infantino since 2020.
No formal investigation will be opened, the IOC said, because the complaint by rights group FairSquare did not relate to FIFA or Infantino’s specific relationship with the Olympic body.
The complaint “refers only to (FIFA’s) decisions about its governance and its management, including its relationship with the government, and to (FIFA’s) implementation of the rules of its sport,” the IOC said in a statement.
President Donald Trump speaks with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City on July 17, 2026. Later that weekend, Trump will attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Folarin BALOGUN ADMITS RED CARD RETURN CAUSED US WC TEAMMATES: ‘A LOT OF EXTERNAL NOISE’
“As a result, the complaint falls outside the jurisdiction of the IOC Ethics Commission,” the statement continued.
“All I did was I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a mistake,” Trump said at the time. “And again, I’m good at this. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two big athletes crashing into each other and getting tangled up. It wasn’t a guy punching somebody in the face or anything, it would be different.
“I think it’s terrible … if they wouldn’t allow a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best on the team, to play, I think that would have had a big stain. I passed it on. I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t think he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision and they made the right decision because, no, and you wanted to see a game. best players.”
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Final with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 13, 2025. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
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Balogun being active didn’t help as the USA lost to Belgium, 4-1.
