A human rights organization focused on accountability in sport has accused Gianni Infantino of “repeated violations of political neutrality rules”.
Gianni Infantino was the subject of charges from human rights groups (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
A complaint brought by human rights groups to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) against FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been dismissed, with an IOC spokesperson confirming the matter is outside the jurisdiction of its ethics committee.
FairSquare filed a complaint accusing Infantino of “repeatedly violating political neutrality rules.” The organization filed a similar complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee last year, alleging that Infantino had publicly expressed support for US President Donald Trump’s actions and policies on multiple occasions.
The complaint was considered and ultimately dismissed, and the IOC now takes the same position. “The IOC Ethics Commission has thoroughly analyzed the allegations from Fair Square,” an IOC spokesperson said.
“The IOC Ethics Commission noted that the complaints, including those regarding the FIFA President, refer only to the IFs’ decisions regarding governance and management, including relations with governments, and the implementation of the competition rules by the IFs, both of which are outside the scope of the IOC Code of Ethics.
“This complaint is outside the jurisdiction of the IOC Ethics Commission and Fair Square has been notified.
Infantino came under intense scrutiny during the World Cup after appearing in a photo alongside Donald Trump, a moment FairSquare highlighted in its complaint. During the convention, Mr. Trump was involved in several controversial incidents that further exacerbated the group’s concerns.
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At last Sunday’s final, boos echoed around New York’s New Jersey Stadium as Trump and Infantino took to the pitch for the World Cup trophy ceremony.
The US president also weighed in on the fallout from Folarin Balogun’s red card and asked Infantino to intervene, adding to the growing calls for the FIFA chief to resign. Balogun should have been automatically suspended for the match against Belgium, having been sent off in the previous match.
However, the automatic one-game suspension was postponed after President Trump and White House World Cup Task Force Director Andrew Giuliani spoke with Infantino on the phone. FIFA said it had suspended the sanction and allowed the co-hosting team’s top scorer to play, but FIFA insists Infantino was not involved in the sanctioning process.
President Trump later praised Truth Social’s decision, writing, “Thank you FIFA for doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice.”
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