BRUSSELS (AP) 鈥� Dozens of European lawmakers are gathering support to launch an investigation in the European Parliament of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino over his involvement to permit U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play despite an earlier red card.
Balogun was shown during the U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, which normally would make him ineligible to play in team’s next game, but FIFA lifted his suspension for a match on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened with Infantino on behalf of the 25-year-old striker.
European Parliament lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement that FIFAs decision to 鈥渃hange the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice.鈥�
鈥淥nce again, we鈥檝e seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration,” the statement said.
The lawmakers are asking the national football associations of the EU countries to spur the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino and whether pressure from the Trump administration was a factor in the lifting of the suspension, as well as “other potential breaches of political neutrality” like awarding Trump
FIFA has said the lifting of the suspension was of a disciplinary committee.
The lawmakers said that 35 colleagues have so far signed the letter.
鈥淭he beauty of sport is that it is based on impartial and transparent rules. When Infantino allows political pressure to determine who gets to play, this sense of fairness goes out the window,鈥� they said.
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