IOC says Infantino Trump-Balogun complaint lies beyond its authority

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled out opening an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino over a complaint linked to alleged political interference in the case of United States forward Folarin Balogun.

Human rights group FairSquare had asked the IOC to examine whether Infantino breached the Olympic Charter’s rules on political neutrality through what it described as “explicit statements and displays of support for the US president”.

The complaint followed comments by then US president Donald Trump during the World Cup, when he revealed he had telephoned Infantino to ask him to reconsider a red card shown to Balogun.

Balogun had been sent off in a match the USA won 2-0 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a dismissal that was due to rule him out of the last-16 tie against Belgium.

However, after Trump’s intervention, the suspension was put on hold for one match for a period of 12 months, with no explanation given beyond reference to a regulatory clause that allows for sanctions to be suspended. Balogun was therefore cleared to play in the knockout game, which the United States lost 4-1 to Belgium.

IOC explains why case is outside its remit

FairSquare argued that Infantino’s role within the Olympic movement meant his conduct should be examined under the Olympic Charter.

Infantino has been a member of the IOC since 2020. Article 2 of the Olympic Charter states that “members of the International Olympic Committee may not accept any instruction or mandate from governments, organisations or any other parties that might interfere with the freedom of their actions or voting”.

Despite that, the IOC has concluded that the complaint does not fall under the jurisdiction of its Ethics Commission.

According to comments cited by the BBC, the IOC said the issues raised relate to “governance and management decisions of an international federation, its relations with governments and its implementation of its sport’s regulations”.

The organisation stressed that such matters “do not fall under the provisions of the IOC Code of Ethics”, and therefore do not provide grounds for a case to be opened against Infantino within the Olympic system.

The decision effectively places responsibility for any further scrutiny of the episode with football’s own governing structures rather than within the Olympic framework.

Norwegian FA considering separate FIFA ethics complaint

The IOC statement came just one day after the Norwegian Football Federation disclosed it is examining whether to submit a formal complaint to FIFA’s Ethics Committee over the decision to suspend Balogun’s ban.

The Norwegian FA’s move is focused specifically on the handling of the disciplinary process and the use of the clause that allowed Balogun’s suspension to be delayed, rather than on Olympic rules.

While the IOC has now closed off one potential route of investigation into Infantino’s actions, any complaint brought to FIFA’s Ethics Committee by the Norwegian federation would be dealt with under FIFA’s own code of ethics and disciplinary regulations.