IOC will not investigate Fifa president Gianni Infantino over complaint
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated it will not investigate Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, regarding a complaint lodged against him. The IOC clarified that the complaint falls outside the scope of its ethics commission’s jurisdiction.
The complaint was filed by human rights campaign group FairSquare, which alleged that Infantino had violated the IOC charter. FairSquare’s concern stemmed from Infantino’s perceived failure to adhere to rules on political neutrality, citing what it described as “statements or other clear expressions of support for the US president.”
Complaint Details and IOC’s Stance
The complaint specifically referenced an incident during the World Cup where US President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged contacting Infantino. Trump stated he had called Infantino to request a review of a red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had been sent off during his side’s 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, which would have resulted in an automatic one-match ban, causing him to miss the subsequent last-16 tie against Belgium.
Following Trump’s intervention, the one-match ban for Balogun was suspended for 12 months. No specific reason was provided for the suspension, beyond a general reference to a rule allowing for the suspension of punishments. Balogun subsequently played in the match against Belgium, which Belgium won 4-1.
Infantino has been a member of the IOC since 2020. Section two of the Olympic charter outlines that IOC members must not accept mandates or instructions from governments, organisations, or other parties that could interfere with their freedom of action and vote.
However, the IOC determined that the complaint against Infantino was beyond the purview of its ethics commission. The committee’s statement explained that the complaint referred solely to Fifa’s decisions on its governance and management, including its relations with governments, and the implementation of its sport’s rules. These areas, according to the IOC, are outside the application scope of the IOC code of ethics.
Norwegian Football Federation’s Concerns
The IOC’s statement followed the emergence of information that the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) was considering lodging a formal complaint with Fifa’s ethics committee regarding the decision to suspend Balogun’s automatic one-match ban. Lise Klaveness, the president of the NFF, expressed “strong concern” over the matter.
Klaveness indicated that the NFF board would discuss whether to proceed with a formal complaint at its next meeting. She told The Times daily that the incident had put “the whole game at risk” and that bending a rule in such a manner creates a “slippery slope.”
The NFF has already submitted a complaint concerning Fifa’s inaugural Peace Prize being awarded to Trump, a decision that was widely criticised. Klaveness believes the Balogun incident should also be considered within the sphere of ethical complaints, stating it “should not have happened.”
Klaveness, a former Norway international and head of the NFF since 2022, highlighted the danger of setting a precedent by adapting to state leaders and state politics. She pointed out that the decision to suspend the ban was reportedly made solely by the chairman of Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee, Mohammad al-Kamali, without consulting other members, which she found concerning given the external influence.
Klaveness stressed the importance of honest communication around the incident and stated that the issue cannot be simply overlooked. She also voiced criticism regarding a proposal from South America to expand the World Cup finals from 48 to 64 teams, arguing it is not in football’s best interest and could create distrust.
Fifa has been contacted for comment regarding these developments.
Source: bbc.com
