BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — A group of European lawmakers has called for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the governing body’s controversial decision to overturn the World Cup suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun.
According to reports, members of the European Parliament launched an initiative on Tuesday urging football associations across the European Union to request a formal FIFA review into the decision-making process and determine whether political influence played any role.
The controversy stems from FIFA’s decision to lift Balogun’s automatic one-match suspension after he received a red card during the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1. Under standard tournament regulations, the dismissal would have ruled him out of the next match.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee overturned the suspension ahead of the United States’ Round of 16 clash against Belgium, marking the first time in modern FIFA World Cup history that a tournament red card did not result in an automatic suspension.
The decision prompted criticism from UEFA, which described the move as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
The controversy intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged speaking with Infantino about Balogun’s suspension, describing the red card as “horrible.” Trump maintained that while he asked FIFA to review the incident, he did not instruct the organisation on what decision to make.
Despite Balogun’s availability, the United States were defeated 4-1 by Belgium and eliminated from the tournament.
In a joint statement, Members of the European Parliament Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters, and Niels Fuglsang described FIFA’s decision as a threat to the integrity of football.
The lawmakers argued that altering disciplinary rules during an ongoing tournament undermines fairness and transparency, adding that dozens of other parliamentarians have supported the call for an investigation.
Responding to the criticism, Infantino insisted that FIFA’s independent judicial bodies handled the matter in accordance with the organisation’s procedures.
He said he informed President Trump that disciplinary decisions are made independently and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting FIFA’s judicial processes.
The episode has intensified scrutiny of FIFA’s governance and its ability to maintain independence from political influence during major international competitions.
