IOC declines to investigate Infantino
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated it will not investigate Fifa president Gianni Infantino, deeming a complaint against him to be outside its purview. The complaint, lodged by human rights campaign group FairSquare, alleged that Infantino had violated rules on political neutrality through expressions of support for the US president.
The controversy stems from an incident during the World Cup, where US president Donald Trump reportedly contacted Infantino to request a review of a red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had received the red card during his side’s 2-0 victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which would have led to an automatic one-match suspension, making him unavailable for the subsequent last-16 tie against Belgium.
Following Trump’s intervention, Balogun’s one-match ban was suspended for 12 months. While no specific reason was publicly provided for the suspension, a rule allowing punishments to be suspended was cited. Balogun subsequently played in the match against Belgium, which his team lost 4-1.
Infantino has been a member of the IOC since 2020. The IOC’s decision not to investigate was based on its determination that the complaint fell outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission. The committee clarified that the complaint pertained to Fifa’s governance decisions, management, relations with government, and implementation of its sport’s rules, all of which are beyond the scope of the IOC code of ethics.
Norwegian Football Federation’s concerns
The IOC’s statement followed news that the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) was considering filing a formal complaint with Fifa’s ethics committee regarding the decision to suspend Balogun’s ban. NFF president Lise Klaveness expressed strong concern about the situation. She indicated that the federation’s board would discuss whether to proceed with a formal complaint at its next meeting.
Klaveness conveyed her intention to seek the board’s backing to lodge a complaint with Fifa’s Ethics Committee, asserting that the incident “should not have happened.” She told The Times that the matter should be considered within the same ethical sphere as other complaints.
The NFF had previously lodged a complaint concerning Fifa’s inaugural Peace Prize being awarded to Trump by Infantino, a decision that garnered widespread criticism. Klaveness believes that bending fundamental rules, such as those compromised in the Balogun affair, puts “the whole game at risk.” She highlighted the danger of compromising fundamental rules and the importance of honest communication surrounding the incident.
Klaveness, a former Norway international who has led the NFF since 2022, emphasized that the verdict was influenced by external forces and did not follow proper procedure. She stressed the need for Fifa’s leadership to acknowledge this as an error. She also pointed out the dangerous precedent set by adapting to state leaders and state politics, which could shift organizational behavior and what constitutes appropriate interference from state leaders.
According to The Times, the decision to suspend Balogun’s ban was made solely by Mohammad al-Kamali, the chairman of Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee, without consulting other members. Klaveness argued that in controversial decisions, especially when powerful external voices are involved, it is crucial to have multiple voices contributing to the decision-making process.
Klaveness, a 45-year-old lawyer, insisted that the issue cannot simply be ignored or “swept under the carpet,” as many coaches, players, and fans felt the decision was too closely tied to the game. She also voiced criticism regarding a proposal from South America to expand the finals from 48 to 64 teams. While acknowledging that the expansion to 48 teams was a significant change, she stated that discussing 64 teams now is not in football’s interest and could create distrust.
The NFF president, who is not a contender for the presidential election next year, believes that the World Cup should not interfere with domestic leagues or confederations more than it currently does. Norway recently returned to the finals after a 28-year absence, reaching the quarterfinals where they lost to England.
Fifa has been contacted for comment regarding the matter.
Source: bbc.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
