European Parliament lawmakers don dey call for investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino, say im allow political pressure from US President Donald Trump to influence football rules.
According to reports, Trump don call Infantino to complain about red card wey dem give American striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun bin get red card for match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and according to normal rules, im suppose miss the next game against Belgium. But FIFA suddenly reverse the suspension, and Balogun play for the match wey US lose 4-1 to Belgium.
MEPs Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang don write letter to 27 European football associations, urging dem to ask FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate whether Trump administration pressure influence the decision. Dem call FIFA decision “a disgrace and a perversion of justice.”
“Once again, we’ve seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration,” the lawmakers tok for joint statement. Dem also mention say FIFA award Trump the FIFA Peace Prize, and dem want know if dat one be another breach of political neutrality.
FIFA say the lifting of suspension na decision of disciplinary committee, but the lawmakers no gree. “The 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,” dem add.
Besides the European Parliament, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) fit also investigate Infantino. Human rights group FairSquare say dem go file complaint to IOC about Infantino repeated breach of political neutrality rules. Infantino join IOC as member for 2020, and IOC get rules about neutrality for sports bodies.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry say dem dey watch the matter, but no formal complaint don reach dem yet. “Obviously if they do they would look into it,” she tok for news conference.
Trump don admit say im call Infantino about Balogun red card, but im say im no ask for anything. After FIFA reverse the ban, Trump thank Infantino for “reversing a great injustice.” Infantino claim say im tell Trump say FIFA disciplinary body dey independent.
The decision don cause plenty wahala for Europe. UEFA, the European football governing body, describe am as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” Belgian Football Federation don launch formal challenge against Balogun eligibility. European Commissioner Glenn Micallef also call the reversal “wrong decision.”
William Gaillard, former UEFA director of communications, tell Euronews say the reversal “completely against the rules and the status of FIFA.”
The MEPs letter dey gather signatures, and dem get deadline of 6pm CET on Wednesday. Dem want football associations to ensure senior FIFA officials be held accountable if evidence show dem break rules on political neutrality. Dem also recall earlier letter wey 50 MEPs sign, calling for investigation into FIFA Peace Prize award to Trump.
