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After Trump’s intervention and the arbitration dispute, the Swiss official found himself on the receiving end
Gianni Infantino, president of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), is under increasing pressure after rights group FairSquare announced its intention to file a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s ethics committee, accusing him of “repeated violations of the principle of political neutrality”.
According to the newspaper, the organization said:L’EquipeThe French newspaper wrote on Wednesday that the complaint is based on Infantino’s close relationship with US President Donald Trump, arguing that his actions contradict the obligations imposed on members of the International Olympic Committee, which stipulate the need to work away from political and commercial interests under the Olympic Charter.
The organization pointed to a number of incidents that have sparked controversy, including Infantino’s participation in a so-called “Peace Council” meeting at Trump’s invitation last February, in addition to his appearance bearing the words “USA” and the numbers “45-47,” referring to the president’s two terms.
The relationship had previously been criticized, but at the time an International Olympic Committee spokesman defended Infantino, explaining that FIFA was supporting an investment program through football to revive sports in Gaza by building sports infrastructure and implementing educational programs and development projects.
The move comes days after controversy erupted over US forward Folarin Balogun’s suspension and participation in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 against Belgium following his complaint that Trump allegedly interfered with direct contact with Infantino.
The president of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, commented on the incident, stressing that she was not yet aware of the existence of a formal complaint, but emphasized that the Ethics Committee would consider any report it receives in accordance with established procedures.
This is not the first time Infantino has faced such allegations, as the Fair Square organization previously filed a complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee after Trump awarded him the “FIFA Peace Prize” in December 2025, alleging that he had repeatedly violated the principle of political neutrality.
The organization confirmed that the complaint was later supported by more than 50 representatives of the European Parliament, in addition to the Norwegian Football Association, but clarified that there was no indication yet of an official investigation into it.
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Increasing pressure before the elections
In the same context, a series of controversial arbitration and disciplinary decisions at the 2026 World Cup cast a shadow over Infantino’s future until next year’s presidential election, at a time when criticism of the tournament’s management is growing, according to a report by the Network.beIN Sports:“.
The current World Cup has seen a series of incidents that have sparked widespread controversy, most notably the decision to overturn Balogun’s suspension, allowing him to play in the quarter-final against Belgium despite being sent off in the previous match, raising questions about the consistency of FIFA’s disciplinary mechanisms.
Criticism also grew after the Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt, as French referee Francois Letexer came under fire for a series of high-profile decisions that reignited debate over the standard of refereeing and the mechanics of using Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology during the tournament.
It comes at a sensitive time when Infantino has already announced his intention to run for a new term as FIFA president in the presidential election to be held in March 2027 on the sidelines of the 77th Congress of the International Federation.
The challenges are not limited to the sporting aspects, as political balances within the international federation may play an influential role in the upcoming elections.
The European Football Association (UEFA) has criticized a number of FIFA decisions in recent years, while the Confederation of African Football (CAF), one of the international federation’s largest voting blocs, continues to closely monitor developments, especially as Morocco prepares to host the 2030 World Cup in partnership with Spain and Portugal.
While it is difficult to ascertain the impact of these crises on the outcome of the election, the controversies surrounding the 2026 World Cup have put FIFA’s leadership under increasing pressure, and the file on tournament management and arbitration decisions is expected to become one of the most prominent points of contention in the upcoming presidential race.
