Pressure is mounting on FIFA President Gianni Infantino after more than 70 members of the European Parliament called for an investigation into whether world football’s governing body breached its own political neutrality rules during the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The calls follow FIFA’s controversial decision to lift the automatic one-match suspension imposed on United States forward Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play in his country’s Round of 16 match against Belgium despite being sent off in the previous round.
Balogun was shown a red card during the United States’ Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an automatic suspension under FIFA’s disciplinary regulations. However, FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee later suspended the ban, making the striker available for the Belgium clash. The United States went on to lose the match 4-1.
The decision sparked widespread criticism across European football, with concerns intensifying after U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed that he had personally contacted Infantino to request a review of Balogun’s suspension, describing the red card as “a great injustice.”
Infantino has rejected suggestions of political interference, insisting that FIFA’s judicial bodies operate independently.
According to the FIFA president, he informed President Trump that the matter had already been referred to FIFA’s independent disciplinary authorities and would be decided strictly in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
“Our judicial bodies operate independently, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the facts before them,” Infantino said.
Despite those assurances, the controversy continues to gather momentum.
A group of 72 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has written to the heads of all 27 European Union football associations, urging them to press for a formal investigation into FIFA’s handling of the Balogun case.
The lawmakers argue that FIFA’s statutes require both the organisation and its officials to remain politically neutral and believe the circumstances surrounding the reversal of Balogun’s suspension deserve closer scrutiny.
Their letter also refers to an earlier complaint filed by 50 MEPs, which questioned Infantino’s decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to President Trump in December 2025. The lawmakers contend that the decision raises further concerns about FIFA’s commitment to political neutrality.
The MEPs are now calling on European football associations, as FIFA member bodies, to seek an investigation into both Infantino’s relationship with political leaders and the process that led to Balogun’s suspension being overturned.
Criticism has also come from across the football community.
UEFA described FIFA’s decision to suspend Balogun’s ban as “incomprehensible,” warning that it had crossed “a red line” for the integrity of football governance.
Meanwhile, FairSquare, a non-profit organisation focused on sport, governance and human rights, announced plans to submit a complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), accusing Infantino of repeatedly violating the principle of political neutrality.
Former Wales captain and UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister also voiced concern about the implications of the case.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, McAllister warned that allowing political leaders to influence disciplinary decisions could seriously undermine confidence in football’s justice system.
“Any political leader could potentially pick up the phone and say there’s now a precedent for changing a punishment awarded to a player,” she said. “That creates a very dangerous environment for football.”
FIFA has not issued any further response to the latest calls for an investigation.
The controversy comes at a crucial stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the tournament entering the quarter-finals amid growing debate over governance, transparency and the independence of FIFA’s disciplinary processes issues that are increasingly competing with the football itself for global attention.
