FIFA President Gianni Infantino may be facing scrutiny from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following a complaint from the human rights organization FairSquare. The group claims that Infantino has violated political neutrality rules due to his support for former U.S. President Donald Trump.

FairSquare's Allegations

FairSquare announced its intention to file a complaint with the IOC, citing Infantino’s “repeated breach of political neutrality rules.” This move escalates an ongoing dispute, as FairSquare had previously challenged FIFA's own ethics processes. The organization contends that Infantino has publicly supported Trump’s actions and policies, which they argue contravenes the FIFA Code of Ethics.

Concerns Over FIFA's Processes

The complaint specifically requests an investigation into Infantino’s involvement in the establishment of the FIFA Peace Prize and the decision to award it to Trump. FairSquare is questioning whether these decisions were made by the FIFA Council or if they were unilateral actions taken by Infantino. They assert that if Infantino acted without proper authority, it would represent a significant abuse of power.

Potential Consequences

According to FairSquare, Infantino's actions may have breached Article 15 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which mandates political neutrality in official matters. Violations of this code can result in fines starting at 10,000 Swiss francs (approximately $12,400) and could lead to a ban of up to two years from any football-related activities.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated that while no complaint had yet been received for review by the ethics commission, the IOC would consider any formal submission. This situation highlights the ongoing tension between sports governance and political involvement.