‘The most shameful ever’: Outrage after humans rights group files report to IOC over ties to Donald Trump
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been filled with controversial moments, but the most divisive has almost invariably been the United States getting its top goal scorer from the tournament, Folarin Balogun, reinstated for the USMNT’s round of 16 matchup with Belgium despite his being assessed a red card in the round of 32, which would’ve normally meant a one-game suspension for the next match.
However, FIFA cited Article 27 as grounds for suspending Balogun’s suspension, which made him eligible to compete in the U.S.’s 4-1 loss. The day of the match, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed his involvement in getting Balogun back on the pitch.
“All I did, I asked for a review, cause I didn’t think it was a foul,” he said, via Yahoo. “I didn’t tell them what to do; I can’t tell them what to do. … I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision.”
On Sunday, it was reported by The Times’ Martyn Ziegler that the decision wasn’t made by a committee but rather by one person, who had ties to the Trump family.
“There are 18 members of FIFA’s disciplinary committee but the unprecedented decision to lift Balogun’s automatic ban was taken by just one person – the chairman Mohammad Al Kamali of UAE. No one else was consulted,” Ziegler reported.
The saga continues
On Tuesday, ESPN reported on a new development in the saga: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been reported to the IOC over the decision in light of his ties to Trump.
“Gianni Infantino has repeatedly breached the IOC’s rules on political neutrality by offering his political support for the President of the United States, Donald Trump,” Human rights group FairSquare said in a statement.
“As outlined below, the evidence suggests that Mr Infantino has committed five clear breaches of IOC rules on political neutrality through statements or other clear expressions of support for the US President.
“We have also provided prima facie evidence of two further serious breaches, which we would request that the IOC investigate. The first of these relates to possible acquiescence to political pressure from President Trump to circumvent FIFA’s on-field disciplinary rules during the 2026 men’s World Cup.
“The second of these relates to Mr Infantino’s promotion of a FIFA fan site for the 2026 men’s World Cup, which appears to have been part of a data-harvesting campaign run by entities linked to President Trump.”
“A wrong was corrected.”
Fans on social media had mixed reactions to the never-ending story surrounding Balogun, Trump, and Infantino. Some were outraged and wanted justice to be served by any means necessary after what they felt was a violation of the beautiful game’s integrity.
“Everyone after corrupt tino. He should not be fifa president after this WC. The most shameful ever,” one fan posted on X.
“Get his *ss any way you can,” someone else added.
Others believed it was time for everyone not involved to simply move on.
“(What) do they know. It was never a red card and it got corrected,” another fan added.
“A wrong was corrected. Get over it. This is a nothing burger,” someone else posted.
Considering the U.S.’s embarassing loss even with Balogun on the pitch, it’s likely that both Trump and Infantino wish they would’ve just left things alone.
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