IOC ethics body dismisses FairSquare complaint against Infantino
The International Olympic Committee has rejected a grievance from human rights group FairSquare regarding Gianni Infantino, citing a lack of authority over FIFA’s internal governance and political neutrality allegations.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has formally rejected a complaint lodged by the human rights group FairSquare against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, determining that the matter lies outside the scope of its regulatory authority. The IOC Ethics Commission concluded that the allegations pertained to FIFA’s internal governance and management decisions rather than violations of the IOC Code of Ethics.
An IOC spokesperson confirmed on Friday that the commission had thoroughly analysed the submission. The statement clarified that the complaint, which focused on Infantino’s relationship with the US government and the implementation of sporting rules, did not fall within the jurisdiction of the IOC Ethics Commission. FairSquare has been informed of the decision.
FairSquare initially filed the complaint on July 14, alleging that Infantino, an IOC member since 2020, repeatedly breached rules on political neutrality by offering public support for US President Donald Trump. The group’s submission escalated an ongoing campaign to challenge FIFA’s ethics processes, following a separate complaint filed with FIFA’s Ethics Committee last year regarding Infantino’s public expressions of support for Trump’s policies.
The scrutiny has intensified following Infantino’s high-profile appearances alongside the US president during the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. On July 19, Infantino and Trump appeared together at the trophy presentation at New Jersey Stadium, where they were booed by spectators.
Tensions also arose earlier in the tournament when Trump claimed he contacted Infantino to request a review of a red card shown to US striker Folarin Balogun during the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun was subsequently suspended for the round of 16 match against Belgium. The US president was previously awarded FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize in December for his efforts to promote dialogue in global conflict hotspots.
