Gianni Infantino faces calls to be investigated by FIFA after European MEPs urged a probe into its decision to overturn a one-match World Cup ban on Folarin Balogun.
The USA striker, shown a red card in their Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina and booked for the Round of 16 match against Belgium, was banned, but FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee suspended the suspension, which meant Balogun was allowed to play in America’s 4-1 loss.
Former US captain and President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA president Infantino and requested the ban to be rescinded, insisting the red card was an ‘injustice’ to Balogun, whom he met on a number of occasions.
Infanatino has maintained the world footballing body’s judiciary operates independently of politics but 72 MEPs have now asked EU associations to initiate FIFA investigation after sending a letter to European governing bodies demanding a probe into FIFA’s disciplinary committees, who they claim have broken the world governing bodies rules over neutrality, and that FIFA have also failed in its legal duty in ruling upon Balogun’s banning case.
UEFA already labelled the lifting of the suspension “incomprehensible”. Human rights body FairSquare also intends to make a complaint to the International Olympic Committee, while Wales and Team GB legend Laura McAllister says it is dangerous.
