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European Parliament calls for investigation into Infantino over suspension of Balogun's red card

2026-07-07 18:32:33Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
European Parliament calls for investigation into Infantino over suspension of
Gianni Infantino

A group of MEPs is calling for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino to determine whether pressure from US President Donald Trump's administration influenced FIFA's decision to overturn the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun after his red card.

Balogun played in the World Cup round of 16 match, where the United States was defeated 4-1 by Belgium.

According to a letter circulating in the European Parliament and obtained by Euronews, MEPs are calling on the 27 football federations of the European Union member states to formally request an investigation from FIFA into the process that led to the lifting of Balogun's suspension.

"We believe the time has come for the European football federations, all members of FIFA, to intervene and demand an investigation into how this decision was made," the letter says.

Irish MEP Barry Andrews, one of the initiators of the document, told Euronews that "once again Gianni Infantino and FIFA have bowed to the demands of the Trump administration", calling the decision "a disgrace and a perversion of justice".

Balogun received a controversial red card in the USA's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week. Under the rules, a red card automatically carries a one-match suspension, which would have ruled the forward out of the crucial match against Belgium.

Trump later admitted that he had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss Balogun's red card, which he considered unfair, but denied exerting pressure or seeking favoritism.

FIFA then suspended the enforcement of the punishment using a legal mechanism that, according to reports, had never been used before at a World Cup since the introduction of red cards.

The US president publicly thanked Infantino for, as he put it, “correcting a great injustice.” For his part, Infantino stated that during the conversation he had explained to Trump that FIFA’s disciplinary body is independent.

The decision has caused strong reactions in Europe.

UEFA described it as "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable", while the Belgian Football Federation has filed an official complaint questioning Balogun's eligibility to play in that match.

Even the European Commissioner for Sport, Glenn Micallef, called the lifting of the suspension "a wrong decision."

Meanwhile, William Gaillard, former director of communications and public affairs at UEFA, told Euronews that the decision "completely contradicts FIFA's rules and statutes" and called it "a scandal".

The letter was initiated by MEPs Barry Andrews (Renew Europe), Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang (Socialists and Democrats) and is collecting signatures until the deadline.

The signatories demand that European federations ensure that senior FIFA officials are held accountable if they are proven to have violated the rules of political neutrality.

They also recall another letter, signed by 50 MEPs, demanding an investigation into FIFA's decision to award President Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.


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