IOC declines to investigate Gianni Infantino over Trump's call about Folarin Balogun red card

The International Olympic Committee announced Friday that it volition not analyse Gianni Infantino regarding President Donald Trump's telephone to him astir Folarin Balogun's arguable reddish card.

The USMNT prima received a reddish paper successful the circular of 32 of the World Cup, which initially made him ineligible to play successful the adjacent round.

However, FIFA decided to suspend the reddish card, which made Balogun eligible. Trump aboriginal said helium called Infantino and asked for a review, but FIFA claimed it was not influenced by Trump.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino clasp the FIFA World Cup winner's trophy earlier handing it implicit to Spain skipper Rodri astatine the grant ceremonial pursuing the FIFA World Cup 2026 last lucifer betwixt Spain and Argentina astatine New York New Jersey Stadium successful East Rutherford, N.J. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The ruling added to what was already a immense controversy, arsenic it was argued Balogun should not person been red-carded successful the archetypal place. Nonetheless, Balogun was progressive contempt an entreaty and a beardown absorption from Belgium.

A London-based NGO formally complained this period to the IOC morals committee astir Infantino. The IOC’s Olympic Charter cites neutrality among "fundamental principles of Olympism" for sports bodies similar FIFA and its 100-plus members, which person included Infantino since 2020.

No ceremonial probe volition beryllium opened, the IOC said, due to the fact that the ailment by the rights radical FairSquare did not subordinate to FIFA’s oregon Infantino’s circumstantial relations with the Olympic body.

The ailment "refers lone to (FIFA’s) decisions connected its governance and its management, including its relations with government, and to (FIFA’s) implementation of the rules of its sport," the IOC said successful a statement.

President Donald Trump speaks alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino astatine a FIFA reception astatine Trump Tower successful New York City connected July 17, 2026. Later that weekend, Trump volition be the FIFA World Cup 2026 last betwixt Spain and Argentina astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, N.J. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

FOLARIN BALOGUN ADMITS THAT RED-CARD REVERSAL AFFECTED USA WORLD CUP TEAMMATES: 'A LOT OF OUTSIDE NOISE'

"Consequently, the ailment falls extracurricular the IOC morals commission’s jurisdiction," the connection continued.

"All I did was, I asked for a review, due to the fact that I didn’t deliberation it was a foul," Trump said astatine the time. "And again, I’m bully astatine this stuff. I didn’t deliberation it was a foul. I thought it was 2 large athletes who crashed into each different and got entangled. That was not a feline punching idiosyncratic successful the look oregon anything, that would beryllium different.

"I deliberation it’s a terrible… if they wouldn’t let a apical player, possibly the best, possibly among the champion connected the team, to play, I deliberation it would person had a large stain. I relayed it. I didn’t archer him what to do. I don’t judge helium made the decision. I deliberation it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the close determination because, No. 1, it wasn’t a foul, and you privation to spot a crippled with your champion players."

President Donald Trump and archetypal woman Melania Trump be the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 last lucifer with FIFA President Gianni Infantino astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, New Jersey, connected July 13, 2025. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Balogun being progressive did not help, arsenic the U.S. mislaid to Belgium, 4-1.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.