FIFA

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected a complaint lodged against FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Human rights organisation FairSquare had asked the IOC’s Ethics Commission to examine what it described as Infantino’s repeated violations of political neutrality.

They cited his increasingly close public relationship with United States president Donald Trump.

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The NGO argued that Infantino’s public praise of Trump and a series of high-profile appearances alongside the US president undermined FIFA’s ethical standards.

However, the complaint has been dismissed. An IOC spokesperson confirmed the decision, explaining that international federations remain independent under the Olympic Charter.

“The IOC Ethics Commission noted that, in accordance with the Olympic Charter, each international federation retains its independence and autonomy in its governance,” the spokesperson said (via L’Equipe).

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They added that the complaint fell outside the commission’s jurisdiction. While the IOC has stepped aside, pressure on FIFA continues to grow.

Fifty members of the European Parliament wrote to FIFA demanding a response to a separate ethics complaint.

They wanted answers over Infantino’s decision to present Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025.

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The parliamentarians questioned whether the award complied with FIFA’s commitment to political neutrality and called for transparency.

The award was arbitrarily unveiled during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC,

FairSquare’s original complaint, which they submitted to FIFA’s Ethics Committee last December, alleges four breaches of FIFA’s Code of Ethics.

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Among them are Infantino’s repeated public praise of Trump, remarks describing him as a close friend, and social media activity that echoes Trump-era political messaging.

The campaign has also received support from the Norwegian Football Association.

The relationship between the pair has become increasingly suspicious after Trump reportedly lobbied for Folarin Balogun’s red card to be overturned at the 2026 World Cup.

Trump also awkwardly joined the presentation of the World Cup to Spain after the final, as he did after the Club World Cup final last year.

According to the New York Post, Trump pitched Infantino to become the next United Nations Secretary-General, even though he is poised to extend his tenure as FIFA boss for another term.

FIFA’s Ethics Committee has yet to announce any outcome from its investigation.

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Source: Footballtoday.com