Pressure is mounting on FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the world football governing body suspended U.S. men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, prompting more than 70 European lawmakers to call for an investigation into FIFA’s adherence to its political neutrality rules.
Balogun was sent off during the United States’ Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina and was due to miss the Round of 16 clash against Belgium. However, FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee suspended the automatic one-match ban, allowing the 25-year-old to start the match, which the United States lost 4-1.
Belgium challenged the decision before kickoff, but FIFA rejected the appeal.
Responding to the controversy, Infantino insisted that FIFA’s judicial bodies operate independently and without political influence.
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them,” he said.
He also disclosed that he had discussed the matter with U.S. President Donald Trump, while stressing that the legal process remained independent.
“During our conversation with President Trump, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold,” Infantino added.
On Wednesday, 72 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) wrote to the heads of the 27 European Union football associations, urging them to demand an investigation into FIFA’s handling of the Balogun case.
The latest intervention follows an earlier letter sent on June 29 by 50 MEPs, who called on FIFA to respond to an ethics complaint accusing Infantino of repeatedly breaching the organisation’s political neutrality rules. The complaint also questioned his decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump in December 2025.
In their latest letter, the lawmakers argued that the suspension of Balogun’s ban had intensified concerns over FIFA’s decision-making process.
“In light of the decision taken on Sunday to suspend the implementation of an automatic one-match suspension, we believe it is time for European football associations, as FIFA member associations, to intervene and request an investigation into the decision-making process,” the letter stated.
The lawmakers pointed to FIFA’s own regulations, noting that Article 4(2) of the FIFA Statutes requires the organisation to remain politically neutral, while Article 15 of the FIFA Code of Ethics obliges football officials to avoid political involvement and provides sanctions for violations.
They urged national football associations across Europe to support calls for an independent investigation into Infantino’s relationship with President Trump and to examine the circumstances surrounding the decision to overturn Balogun’s suspension.
According to the lawmakers, member associations have a responsibility to ensure FIFA’s rules are applied consistently and that any alleged breaches of its ethical standards are thoroughly investigated.
