72 MEPs urge FIFA ethics review of Balogun suspension
Dozens of MEPs have urged national football associations to demand a FIFA ethics investigation into whether political pressure from Donald Trump influenced a disciplinary decision, despite viral claims falsely attributing the call to the entire European Parliament.
Seventy-two members of the European Parliament have signed a letter calling on the 27 national football associations of EU member states to ask FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee to investigate president Gianni Infantino.
The move follows FIFA’s decision to lift an automatic one-match suspension for US striker Folarin Balogun after a red card in the team's round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. US President Donald Trump confirmed he asked FIFA to review the case, telling reporters: "All I did was ask for a review because I didn't think it was a foul."
The lawmakers want the ethics committee to examine whether political pressure swayed the disciplinary process and if Infantino adhered to FIFA’s rules on political neutrality. The Belgian Football Association labelled the original decision "astonishing" and demanded an explanation from FIFA.
For European football, the intervention of a US president in a disciplinary matter raises serious questions about institutional governance. Continental football competitions are multi-billion-euro enterprises whose commercial viability depends entirely on the perception of impartiality and fair play. The MEPs stressed they are "not motivated by any desire to see any individual football player sanctioned" but want to "ensure that rules are applied in a way to protect the integrity of the game."
Neither FIFA nor Infantino have publicly responded to the letter. FIFA previously stated the decision was made by its independent disciplinary committee. Infantino acknowledged the call with Trump but said he told the US president that the "case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies," which he argued were independent.
A viral post on X, viewed more than 6 million times, falsely claimed the European Parliament itself had called for the investigation. In reality, the EU legislature has not adopted a resolution calling for a probe, nor has it voted to endorse the letter. The document remains an initiative by individual lawmakers, not the official position of the institution.
