Gianni Infantino is being investigated over the World Cup, and it could cause him big trouble.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is being asked to look into the decision that let United States striker Folarin Balogun play against Belgium in the round of 16 at World Cup 2026. Balogun had been sent off in the previous game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which usually means he would miss the next match. But this one-match ban was suddenly lifted, making him available for coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was very happy about it.
The US ended up losing 4-1 in Seattle, and Belgium will face Spain in the quarter-finals on Friday. While some of Pochettino’s team have left, the controversy around Balogun’s cleared suspension is still causing concern.
Infantino has faced a lot of criticism because of the decision. Even though FIFA says the choice was independent of them, the US President claimed it as a win. People worry that a phone call from Donald Trump to Infantino might have influenced this, especially since they are known to be close, which raises doubts and hurts the World Cup’s reputation.
FIFA has made similar moves before, like when Cristiano Ronaldo was allowed to skip a suspension early in Portugal’s tournament. Infantino’s actions, which some see as political, have caught the attention of European Union lawmakers.
According to The Athletic, 72 Members of the European Parliament have written to the heads of the 27 football federations in the EU. They are asking for an investigation into Infantino’s role in the Balogun case. Their letter says it’s time for European Football Associations to step in and make sure FIFA looks into how this decision was made.
They remind FIFA’s rules clearly say the organization and its officials should stay out of politics. The FIFA Statutes and Code of Ethics both stress this, saying all football officials must be politically neutral, or face penalties.
This political involvement is the first serious move to challenge Infantino’s leadership. The fact that the US is co-hosting complicates things, as it makes FIFA’s job of overseeing the tournament harder.
During the group stage, Iran’s treatment raised concerns because it went against the usual standards expected from a host nation, especially since Iran is at war with another FIFA member. Also, Somali referee Omar Artan missed out on his World Cup debut because he was denied entry to the US last month.
FIFA’s main job with the World Cup is to keep football fair and make sure the hosts follow the rules. Right now, questions remain about how well they are doing that.