FIFA president Gianni Infantino is once again under pressure after calls from 72 European lawmakers for a formal investigation to be launched following the Folarin Balogun scandal. The USMNT striker had been sent off during the round-of-32 tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a challenge that was considered soft at the time.
Balogun was expected to miss the USMNT’s round-of-16 tie against Belgium, but the suspension was suspended by FIFA, with Donald Trump taking credit for the reversal. While the governing body denied any political interference, President Trump proudly claimed his intervention inspired FIFA to change their mind and allow Balogun to play.
It didn’t go down well with the majority of the football world, with corruption claims having been levelled at FIFA in the days since. Balogun did feature for the USMNT against Belgium, however, he was unable to stop them from succumbing to a hefty 4-1 defeat and crashing out of the tournament.
Even though the co-hosts were knocked out, it doesn’t appear to have lightened the load on Infantino’s shoulders, with calls from the EU to launch an official investigation. It’s said that 72 members of the European Parliament have officially written to the 27 EU football associations regarding Infantino and the Balogun affair.
They are suggesting an immediate investigation should take place, as they’ve been left concerned regarding the decision-making process that allowed Balogun to play vs Belgium. The MEPs’ letter read: “In light of the decision taken on Sunday to suspend the implementation of an automatic one-match suspension, we feel that it is time for European Football Associations, all of whom are member associations of FIFA, to intervene and ask that FIFA investigate the aforementioned decision-making processes. FIFA’s statutory rules and code of ethics provide a very clear basis for member associations to intervene and demand an investigation.”
Folarin Balogun was shown red during the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina (Image: Getty)
They are claiming that FIFA broke their own internal rules on political neutrality, and point towards the FIFA handbook which outlines when and where politicians shouldn’t get involved. It read: The lawmakers argued: “The requirement of political neutrality is clearly outlined in both the FIFA Statutes and the Code of Ethics. Article 4(2) of the FIFA Statutes outlines the principle whereby ‘FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion’, and Article 15 of the FIFA Code of Ethics states that all football officials must remain politically neutral, and provides for strong sanctions for violations.
“Member associations have an important role to play in ensuring that rules are upheld and that those who break them are held accountable. In that regard, we urge you to add your voice to recent calls in support of an investigation into Gianni Infantino’s links to President Trump from MEPs and from the Norwegian Football Federation. Any investigation must now include scrutiny of the decision-making process surrounding FIFA’s decision to rescind the ban imposed on a member of the US men’s national team.”
Meanwhile, the competition resumes on Thursday night from the quarter-finals stage, with Morocco vs France the first of four last-eight ties. Spain will come up against the USMNT’s victors, Belgium, on Friday night, while England vs Norway and Argentina vs Colombia are pencilled in for Saturday.
