Story perspectives
IOC Complains Infantino Breached Neutrality; FIFA Lifts Ban
7/15/2026
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Story summary
- IOC received a complaint that FIFA President Gianni Infantino breached neutrality after U.S. President Donald Trump called about Balogun’s July 1 suspension.
- FIFA lifted Balogun’s ban, letting him start the round-of-16 versus Belgium.
- Infantino said FIFA’s judicial bodies act independently and denied any Trump-related influence.
- Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang led a June 29 letter urging a FIFA Ethics probe and a review of Infantino’s December 2025 Peace Prize to Trump.
