World Cup - Euronews: Calls inside the European Parliament for an investigation into Infantino

A number of members of the European Parliament launched an initiative demanding the opening of an investigation into whether pressures from the American administration had influenced the decision of the International Federation of Association Football to lift the suspension of the American striker Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup.

According to a report published by Euronews, a letter circulated within the European Parliament calls on the 27 football federations of the European Union countries to take official action within FIFA corridors to demand an investigation into the mechanism of the decision to lift the suspension on the player.

The crisis erupted after Balogun received a controversial red card during the United States' match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round, which automatically required his absence from the round-of-16 match against Belgium according to the regulations stipulating a one-match suspension for a player following a direct sending-off.

However, U.S. President Donald Trump later revealed that he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the incident, describing the red card as unfair, while confirming at the same time that he had not requested any favor or direct intervention.

After that, FIFA decided to suspend the enforcement of the penalty through a legal clause that sparked widespread controversy, as reports indicated that this mechanism had never been used before in the history of the World Cup since the adoption of the red card system.

Balogun did indeed participate against Belgium in a match that ended with the United States losing 4-1 and the American team exiting the tournament.

The incident sparked widespread anger within European football circles, as UEFA described the decision as "unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable," while the Belgian Football Association filed a formal objection to the legality of the player's participation in the match.

For his part, European Parliament member Barry Andrews described the decision as "a scandal and a deviation from justice," accusing FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino of yielding to pressure from the American administration.

European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef also considered the decision to lift the suspension "a wrong decision," while William Gaillard, former Director of Communications and Public Affairs at UEFA, affirmed that what happened completely contradicts FIFA regulations and the principle of political neutrality.

The letter, launched by a number of European Parliament members, seeks to push the European federations to demand accountability from FIFA officials if violations related to the principle of political neutrality or external interference in disciplinary decisions for international tournaments are proven.