Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:42am on 16 Jul 2026,Thursday Sports
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing a complaint alleging breaches of political neutrality, with advocacy group FairSquare urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to investigate his ties to US President Donald Trump, Reuters reported. The complaint claims Infantino violated IOC rules on multiple occasions, including his alleged role in overturning a one-match suspension for US striker Folarin Balogun, enabling him to play against Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 on July 6. Trump has publicly admitted intervening to help Balogun become eligible and said he contacted Infantino. While Infantino acknowledged receiving Trump's call, he denied influencing FIFA's disciplinary process or the decision regarding Balogun's suspension. (PC: AP)
