FIFA boss Gianni Infantino remains under fire for U.S. red-card shenanigans

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino remains under fire for U.S. red-card shenanigans as the core theme, with the controversy centered on how the suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s red card in the Round of 32 was overturned. The article says the reversal has been linked to a phone call from President Trump, and that the fallout has extended beyond matchday narratives. Reuters reports that the human-rights group FairSquare filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee alleging repeated breaches of FIFA rules on political neutrality, citing Infantino’s public alignment with Trump and the awarding of a previously nonexistent FIFA Peace Prize. FairSquare previously approached FIFA’s Ethics Committee in December 2025. Separately, at least 35 European lawmakers have asked EU national football bodies to request an ethics investigation, also referencing potential neutrality breaches tied to U.S. government influence. The piece concludes that further investigation is warranted amid additional claims involving the tournament.