72 European Parliament members sign joint letter: "Investigate Infantino"
2 European Parliament members sign joint letter to EU 27 national football associations, calling for investigation into FIFA President
According to a report by Politico Europe, on the 8th local time, 72 members of the European Parliament sent a joint letter to the football associations of the 27 EU member states, calling for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding FIFA's decision to temporarily suspend the red card ban for United States forward Folarin Balogun.
Infantino file photo (Visual China)
In the joint letter, the 72 MEPs called for an investigation into the following: whether Infantino was involved in the decision to suspend Balogun's red card ban, and whether pressure from the US government was a factor in reaching that decision.
Politico Europe reported that Barry Andrews, the MEP who led the drafting of the letter, said, "We must be clear: FIFA's decision to change the red card suspension rules during a tournament is a disgrace and a distortion of fairness." Andrews argued that the decision shows Infantino and FIFA caving to demands from the US government.
The report said the MEPs who signed the letter believe that since FIFA enforces its code of ethics on the football associations of the 27 EU member states, those associations are equally "entitled to hold senior FIFA officials accountable."
FIFA has not yet responded to the letter. Infantino has previously denied influencing the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
Previously, US player Balogun, who received a red card in the Round of 16 match of the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup, was given a one-year suspended one-match ban by FIFA, allowing him to play in the US team's Round of 16 match against Belgium on the 6th. Balogun became the first player since the introduction of red and yellow cards at the 1970 World Cup to receive a red card and still be able to continue playing in his team's next World Cup match. FIFA's decision sparked widespread controversy. The Belgian Football Association issued a statement expressing "shock" at the decision. UEFA also issued a statement saying the decision "crossed a red line" and would have a negative impact on the entire football world. On the 6th, Infantino confirmed that US President Donald Trump indeed called him about the matter, but said it was an independent decision by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which is an independent judicial body.
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72 European Parliament members sign joint letter: "Investigate Infantino"
2 European Parliament members sign joint letter to EU 27 national football associations, calling for investigation into FIFA President
According to a report by Politico Europe, on the 8th local time, 72 members of the European Parliament sent a joint letter to the football associations of the 27 EU member states, calling for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding FIFA's decision to temporarily suspend the red card ban for United States forward Folarin Balogun.
Infantino file photo (Visual China)
In the joint letter, the 72 MEPs called for an investigation into the following: whether Infantino was involved in the decision to suspend Balogun's red card ban, and whether pressure from the US government was a factor in reaching that decision.
Politico Europe reported that Barry Andrews, the MEP who led the drafting of the letter, said, "We must be clear: FIFA's decision to change the red card suspension rules during a tournament is a disgrace and a distortion of fairness." Andrews argued that the decision shows Infantino and FIFA caving to demands from the US government.
The report said the MEPs who signed the letter believe that since FIFA enforces its code of ethics on the football associations of the 27 EU member states, those associations are equally "entitled to hold senior FIFA officials accountable."
FIFA has not yet responded to the letter. Infantino has previously denied influencing the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
Previously, US player Balogun, who received a red card in the Round of 16 match of the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup, was given a one-year suspended one-match ban by FIFA, allowing him to play in the US team's Round of 16 match against Belgium on the 6th. Balogun became the first player since the introduction of red and yellow cards at the 1970 World Cup to receive a red card and still be able to continue playing in his team's next World Cup match. FIFA's decision sparked widespread controversy. The Belgian Football Association issued a statement expressing "shock" at the decision. UEFA also issued a statement saying the decision "crossed a red line" and would have a negative impact on the entire football world. On the 6th, Infantino confirmed that US President Donald Trump indeed called him about the matter, but said it was an independent decision by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which is an independent judicial body.