More than 100,000 people add names to complaint against Gianni Infantino
More than 100,000 people have added their names to a complaint against Fifa president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of abusing his power, breaching his duty of political neutrality and failing in his duty of loyalty through his dealings with Donald Trump. The complaint, organised by campaign group Fair Square under its Reboot Fifa initiative, was submitted to Fifa's ethics committee, which failed to respond to an earlier version of the complaint filed in December. The move piles further pressure on Infantino, who faces criticism from Uefa and elsewhere over governance concerns just as he prepares to seek re-election.
The letter cites eight incidents underpinning the allegations, including the overturning of Folarin Balogun's red card at the World Cup after Trump admitted asking Fifa to review it, the collapsed Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme, the awarding of a Fifa peace prize to Trump, and Infantino's involvement in Trump's Middle East "Board of Peace". The original complaint has the backing of the Norwegian football federation and 50 European parliamentarians. Fifa has dismissed the campaign as an effort by opponents to undermine the organisation and its president, while Uefa has called for Infantino to stand down and said it intends to pursue criminal claims in the US over the FFE scandal.
In short
- Over 100,000 sign complaint accusing Infantino of abusing his power
- Complaint cites Trump ties, Balogun red card and FFE scandal
- Infantino seeks re-election despite Uefa pressure to resign
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those backing the complaint argue that Fifa’s president must remain politically neutral and accountable, especially when decisions may affect players or the organisation’s finances and reputation. They say the cited dealings with Trump, alongside governance concerns and the ethics committee’s lack of response to the earlier complaint, warrant independent scrutiny and could undermine confidence in Fifa.
The case against
Those opposing the complaint can argue that allegations and public pressure should not be treated as proof of misconduct, and that Fifa’s rules and evidence should determine whether Infantino breached his duties. They may see the campaign as politically motivated and aimed at weakening the organisation’s leadership, while maintaining that contact with political figures or participation in peace initiatives does not by itself establish a breach of neutrality.
Explained simply
Fifa is football’s international governing body, and its president, Gianni Infantino, leads the organisation. Its ethics committee examines complaints about the conduct of people working in football, while Uefa governs the game in Europe.
The complaint concerns whether Infantino’s dealings with Donald Trump were compatible with his duties at Fifa. It points to several episodes, including a red-card decision involving US player Folarin Balogun and Fifa’s peace prize for Trump; Infantino and Fifa reject the campaign’s characterisation of events.
The dispute matters because Fifa oversees international competitions and is responsible for governing the sport worldwide. Questions about its leadership and decision-making have also drawn criticism from European football officials as Infantino approaches a re-election bid.
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