Live Roundups Editor's Desk Insights Executive Ops Weather About 🔍
Home › Sport › Gianni Infantino unlikely to face IOC sanctions over...
Sport

Gianni Infantino unlikely to face IOC sanctions over Balogun red card scandal

The Guardian Sport Saturday 18 July 2026, 11:00 UTC By Exclusive by Matt Hughes and Nick Ames in New York 1 min read
Key Points

Donald Trump spoke to Fifa president before ban liftedHuman rights body FairSquare sent complaint to IOCGianni Infantino is poised to escape without sanction after complaints he breached rules on political neutrality in his dealings with Donald Trump over the Folarin Balogun affair. The International Olympic Committee this week received a formal complaint from the human rights organisation FairSquare regarding Infantino’s conduct after Trump revealed he had called the Fifa president asking...

  • Donald Trump spoke to Fifa president before ban lifted

  • Human rights body FairSquare sent complaint to IOC

Gianni Infantino is poised to escape without sanction after complaints he breached rules on political neutrality in his dealings with Donald Trump over the Folarin Balogun affair.

The International Olympic Committee this week received a formal complaint from the human rights organisation FairSquare regarding Infantino’s conduct after Trump revealed he had called the Fifa president asking him to review Balogun’s ban from the USA’s last-16 tie against Belgium. The ban was subsequently suspended for 12 months after an unprecedented ruling from Fifa’s disciplinary committee.

Continue reading...
Gianni Infantino (PERSON) IOC (ORG) Balogun (ORG) Donald Trump (PERSON) Fifa (ORG) FairSquare (ORG) IOCGianni Infantino (ORG) Folarin Balogun (PERSON) The International Olympic Committee (ORG) Infantino (ORG) USA (LOCATION) Belgium (LOCATION)
Originally published by The Guardian Sport Read original →

Related Stories

Hamilton crashes out as Antonelli sets pace in final Belgium practice

Belgian GP: Lewis Hamilton crashes in final practice as Kimi Antonelli sets pace again at Spa-Francorchamps Ferrari working to prepare Lewis Hamilton's car for Qualifying after big crash at the end of final practice; Kimi Antonelli just fastest from rivals; watch Qualifying later on Saturday at 3pm with the race on Sunday at 2pm (build-up from 12.30pm), live on Sky Sports F1 Saturday 18 July 2026 13:21, UK Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari crew face a race against time to repair his car for Belgian...

Sky Sports Football just now

World Cup Daily live: Messi, Brady in KD's all-sta...

It's the penultimate day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup! France take on England to sort out third place in Miami Gardens as we also continue to build up to Sunday's grand final between Argentina and Spain. Enjoy all the features, news, video analysis and color from around the competition.

ESPN 6m ago

World's most remote World Cup final watch parties

The FIFA World Cup final is the most-watched sporting event in the world. An estimated 1.5 billion people watched 2022's showpiece match in Qatar, and the final on Sunday between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey is likely to eclipse that figure. While crowds will pack into friends' houses, bars and open-air screenings in some of football's most renowned hotbeds such as London, Paris and Buenos Aires, the action will also be enjoyed by people in less likely surroundings.

ESPN 6m ago

Who wins in the World Cup final battle between Mes...

NEW YORK -- It might not happen because this sport is wickedly unpredictable, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, but it's impossible to ignore the narrative ahead of Sunday's FIFA World Cup final. GOAT begetting GOAT-in-waiting. Argentina's Lionel Messi passing the torch to Spain phenom Lamine Yamal.

ESPN 7m ago