72 MEPs demand FIFA investigation after Infantino overturned Balogun's red card ban

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Seventy-two members of the European Parliament on Wednesday demanded an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino after FIFA lifted the red-card suspension of star U.S. striker Folarin Balogun following a call from Donald Trump.

Last Thursday, Trump called Infantino to lobby for the automatic ban given to Balogun after receiving a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina to be overturned. Four days later, FIFA’s disciplinary committee cleared Balogun to play in a crunch match against Belgium.

In a letter sent to the national football federations of the EU’s 27 member countries and obtained by POLITICO, the lawmakers asked them to “add your voice to recent calls in support of an investigation” into Infantino.

“Let us be clear: FIFA’s decision to change the rule on red card suspension mid-tournament is a disgrace and perversion of justice,” said Renew MEP Barry Andrews, who wrote the letter. “Once again, we’ve seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration.”

Despite Balogun taking part, the U.S. lost to a fired-up Belgium team, whose players mocked the U.S. President’s dancing after scoring their fourth goal in a 4-1 demolition of the host nation.

The lawmakers argue that since FIFA imposes its ethics rules on the 27 member associations, they are similarly “bound by FIFA’s code of ethics to demand that senior FIFA officials be held accountable.”

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter, but Infantino has previously denied influencing the committee’s decision.

Wednesday’s letter is the third missive in two weeks from European lawmakers to the world football governing body. Andrews wrote a letter last week urging FIFA to investigate Infantino over alleged violations of the organization’s own political neutrality rules, telling POLITICO that FIFA was “profoundly corrupt.” Two days later, fellow Renew MEP Petras Auštrevičius rebuked FIFA over its decision to allow Russians to participate in the U-15 World Cup in October.

The previous letters drew signatures from 50 and 44 MEPs, respectively, making the newest letter the most broadly supported push yet. The letter was signed by MEPs from six parliamentary groups.

“Not many issues can garner that level of bipartisan support,” Andrews added.