IOC declines to investigate Gianni Infantino over Trump's call about Folarin Balogun red card

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the Trump administration contributed to a historic cultural event during a FIFA reception at Trump Tower.

The International Olympic Committee announced Friday that it will not investigate Gianni Infantino regarding President Donald Trump's call to him about Folarin Balogun's controversial red card.

The USMNT star received a red card in the round of 32 of the World Cup, which initially made him ineligible to play in the next round.

However, FIFA decided to suspend the red card, which made Balogun eligible. Trump later said he called Infantino and asked for a review, but FIFA claimed it was not influenced by Trump.

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President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the FIFA World Cup winner's trophy before handing it over to Spain captain Rodri at the award ceremony following the FIFA World Cup 2026 final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The ruling added to what was already a huge controversy, as it was argued Balogun should not have been red-carded in the first place. Nonetheless, Balogun was active despite an appeal and a strong reaction from Belgium.

A London-based NGO formally complained this month to the IOC ethics commission about Infantino. The IOC’s Olympic Charter cites neutrality among "fundamental principles of Olympism" for sports bodies like FIFA and its 100-plus members, which have included Infantino since 2020.

No formal investigation will be opened, the IOC said, because the complaint by the rights group FairSquare did not relate to FIFA’s or Infantino’s specific relations with the Olympic body.

The complaint "refers only to