EU Lawmakers Seek Probe Into FIFA Chief Over Trump Role in Balogun Suspension Row

A fresh controversy has engulfed world football after dozens of European lawmakers called for an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino , alleging political interference in the governing body's decision to allow United States striker Folarin Balogun to play despite receiving a red card in the previous match.

Balogun was sent off during the United States' victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1 , a dismissal that would normally result in an automatic suspension for the team's next fixture. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee lifted the suspension ahead of the United States' clash with Belgium on Monday, a move that came after US President Donald Trump reportedly intervened with Infantino on behalf of the 25-year-old forward.

The decision has triggered strong criticism from members of the European Parliament , who argue that the integrity of football has been compromised. Lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang have begun gathering support for an official inquiry, with 35 parliamentarians already backing their appeal.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers described FIFA's decision to alter the application of red-card suspension rules during an ongoing tournament as "a disgrace and a perversion of justice." They accused FIFA of yielding to political pressure from the Trump administration, warning that such actions undermine the principle of fair competition.

The lawmakers have urged the football associations of European Union member states to press the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate whether external political influence played a role in lifting Balogun's suspension. They also called for scrutiny of what they described as other possible breaches of FIFA's political neutrality , including the decision to award Trump the FIFA Peace Prize .

FIFA has maintained that the suspension was lifted solely through the decision of its independent disciplinary committee.

The episode has reignited debate over the relationship between politics and sport, with critics insisting that football's credibility depends on transparent, impartial and consistently applied rules . As pressure mounts, the controversy is expected to intensify ahead of further international fixtures, placing FIFA's governance and commitment to neutrality under renewed global scrutiny.