BRUSSELS (AP) – Dozens of European lawmakers are rallying behind a European Parliament investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s involvement in the decision to allow U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play despite his earlier red card.
Balogun was shown a red card during the United States’ win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 and would normally be ineligible to play in the next match, but FIFA lifted the match suspension on Monday after US President Donald Trump intervened with Infantino on behalf of the 25-year-old striker.
“FIFA’s decision to change the rules regarding suspensions for red cards mid-competition is a disgrace and a perversion of justice,” European Parliament members Barry Andrews, Lara Walters and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement.
“Once again, we have seen Infantino and FIFA capitulate to the demands of the Trump administration,” the statement said.
Lawmakers are asking the EU’s national football associations to ask the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino, whether pressure from the Trump administration was a factor in lifting the ban, and “other potential violations of political neutrality” such as awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.
FIFA announced that the decision to lift the suspension was made by the disciplinary committee.
Lawmakers say 35 of their colleagues have signed the letter so far.
“The beauty of sport is that it is based on fair and transparent rules. This sense of fairness is ignored when Coach Infantino allows political pressure to decide who plays,” they said.
