IOC will not investigate Fifa president Gianni Infantino as complaint falls outside scope
IOC declines to investigate Infantino
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated it will not investigate Fifa president Gianni Infantino. A complaint filed by human rights group FairSquare, alleging that Infantino breached the Olympic charter by not adhering to rules on political neutrality, was deemed to be outside the IOC’s scope.
FairSquare’s complaint specifically referenced statements and expressions of support for the US president. The complaint also highlighted an incident during the World Cup where US President Donald Trump admitted to calling Infantino to request a review of a red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun was initially expected to miss his team’s last-16 match against Belgium after receiving a red card in their 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, following Trump’s intervention, the one-match ban was suspended for 12 months, with no specific reason provided beyond citing a rule allowing for such suspensions. Balogun subsequently played in the match, which Belgium won 4-1.
Infantino has been a member of the IOC since 2020. Section two of the Olympic charter mandates that IOC members must not accept mandates or instructions from governments, organizations, or other parties that could interfere with their freedom of action and vote.
The IOC clarified that the complaint against Infantino pertained to Fifa’s decisions on its governance and management, including relations with government, and the implementation of its sport’s rules. These matters, according to the IOC, fall outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission and the scope of the IOC code of ethics.
Norwegian Football Federation’s concerns
The IOC’s statement followed reports that the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) was considering filing a formal complaint with Fifa’s ethics committee regarding the decision to suspend Balogun’s automatic one-match ban. NFF president Lise Klaveness expressed strong concern about the situation.
Klaveness indicated that the federation’s board would discuss whether to lodge a complaint. She told The Times that bending a rule in such a manner puts the entire game at risk, compromising fundamental rules. The NFF has already lodged a complaint concerning Fifa’s inaugural Peace Prize being awarded to Donald Trump, a decision that was widely criticized.
Klaveness emphasized that the Balogun incident should not have occurred and called for honest communication regarding it. She stated that the verdict was influenced by external forces and lacked proper process, urging Fifa’s leadership to acknowledge this as an error.
The NFF president, a former Norway international and head of the NFF since 2022, described adapting to state leaders and state politics as a dangerous precedent. She noted that the decision to suspend Balogun’s ban was reportedly made solely by the chairman of Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee, Mohammad al-Kamali, without consulting other members.
Klaveness argued that for controversial decisions, especially when powerful external voices are involved, it is crucial to have multiple voices in the decision-making process. She stressed that attempting to disregard this issue would not be acceptable, as many, including coaches, players, and fans, felt the decision was too close to the game.
Klaveness also voiced criticism regarding a proposal from South America to increase the number of teams in the finals from 48 to 64. She believes that while 48 teams represented a significant change, further expansion to 64 teams is not in football’s best interest and could create distrust, especially among smaller nations. The Norwegian Football Federation will make a decision on whether to file a formal complaint at its next board meeting.
Read Also
Source: bbc.com
