European lawmakers are calling for an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino after FIFA lifts a red-card suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun ahead of the United States’ next match. Balogun receives a red card during the U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, which would normally make him ineligible for the team’s following game. Multiple outlets report that FIFA reverses the suspension on Monday, allowing him to play against Belgium. Several lawmakers in the European Parliament say the timing and nature of the decision raise questions about whether the Trump administration exerted influence on FIFA officials. Reports describe a push to refer the matter to FIFA’s Ethics Committee and also to build support for an investigation at the European Parliament level. While the outlets differ slightly in emphasis—some focus on demands for FIFA’s Ethics Committee action and others on potential government pressure—all describe the same sequence: a red card is issued, the suspension is then lifted, and European lawmakers seek scrutiny of Infantino’s role in that reversal. Lawmakers characterize the decision as improper and call for clarification of who intervened and why.
European lawmakers seek probe into FIFA boss Infantino after Balogun suspension lifted
European lawmakers are calling for an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino after FIFA lifts a red-card suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun ahead of the United States’ next match....
- Folarin Balogun is shown a red card in the U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1.
- FIFA lifts Balogun’s red-card suspension for the U.S.’s next game, allowing him to play against Belgium.
- European lawmakers call for an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s role in the decision to reverse the suspension.
- Lawmakers specifically raise questions about whether pressure or contact involving the Trump administration influenced FIFA’s reversal.
- Calls include urging EU national football associations to seek action by FIFA’s Ethics Committee and exploring an investigation through the European Parliament.
Lawmakers are urging national football associations to push FIFA’s Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino, including whether pressure by the Trump administration influenced the lifting of the suspension
2 hours agoLawmakers call FIFA decision to scrap Balogun suspension after Trump intervention 'a disgrace'.
3 hours agoDozens of European lawmakers are gathering support to launch an investigation in the European Parliament of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino over his involvement in the decision to permit U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play despite an earlier red card. Balogun was shown a red card during the U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, which normally would make him ineligible to play in team's next game, but FIFA lifted his suspension for a match on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened with Infantino on behalf of the 25-year-old striker. European Parliament lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement that FIFAs decision to "change the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice." "Once again, we've seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration," the statement said. The lawmakers are asking the national football associations of the EU countries to spur the FIF
4 hours agoBRUSSELS (AP) — Dozens of European lawmakers are gathering support to launch an investigation in the European Parliament of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino over his involvement in the decision to permit U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play despite an earlier red card. Balogun was shown a red card during the U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on […]
21 hours agoA letter circulating in the European Parliament calls for an investigation into whether pressure from the US administration influenced FIFA's decision to reverse American striker Folarin Balogun's red card suspension. Belgium went on to rout Team USA 4-1 in a resounding victory.
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