IOC Clears Infantino in Trump Call Controversy Over Balogun’s Red Card

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed on Friday its decision not to investigate FIFA President Gianni Infantino concerning a call from President Donald Trump about Folarin Balogun’s contentious red card. The card was issued during the round of 32 of the World Cup, initially making Balogun ineligible for the subsequent round.

FIFA eventually suspended Balogun’s red card, allowing him to participate in the next game. This suspension occurred despite Trump’s acknowledgment of contacting Infantino to request a review. However, FIFA stated that Trump’s intervention did not impact their decision.

President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino were seen holding the FIFA World Cup trophy before presenting it to Spain’s captain, Rodri, during the award ceremony after the FIFA World Cup 2026 final match between Spain and Argentina. This event took place at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The suspension of Balogun’s red card stirred significant controversy. Some argued that Balogun should not have received the red card initially. Although Balogun later participated in the competition following an appeal, a London-based NGO filed a complaint with the IOC ethics commission against Infantino. The complaint emphasized neutrality, which is stated as one of the ‘fundamental principles of Olympism’ within the IOC’s Olympic Charter for organizations like FIFA and its over 100 members, including Infantino since 2020.

The IOC confirmed no formal investigation will be conducted. The FairSquare group’s complaint pertained to FIFA’s governance, management, relations with governments, and implementation of sport rules. These issues were deemed unrelated to Infantino’s specific ties with the Olympic body.

The complaint falls outside the IOC ethics commission’s jurisdiction since it addresses only FIFA’s governance and management without directly involving Olympic relations.

President Donald Trump, speaking at the time, explained his actions: ‘All I did was, I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who got entangled. That was not a violent altercation. I believe the decision was made by a committee, not Infantino personally.’

Even with Balogun playing, the U.S. was defeated 4-1 by Belgium. Trump further clarified his position: ‘It would have been unfortunate to exclude one of the best players. You want to see a match with top athletes.’