Over 100,000 demand Fifa probe into Gianni Infantino over alleged Trump links
More than 100,000 people have signed a formal complaint urging Fifa to investigate president Gianni Infantino over suspected breaches of the governing body’s code of ethics regarding his ties to US president Donald Trump, human rights organisation FairSquare said on Tuesday.
The submission was lodged by FairSquare as part of its “Reboot Fifa” initiative, accusing Infantino of multiple infractions in a letter sent to Fifa’s Ethics Committee.
Specific allegations include abuse of power, failure to remain politically neutral, and violations of loyalty duties in an attempt to “ingratiate himself with the US President”.
Nicholas McGeehan, director at FairSquare, explained that this action follows an initial complaint from December 2025 and comes after developments during and after the World Cup, which concluded in July.
Key concerns centre on Trump reaching out to Infantino during the World Cup to urge a review of US forward Folarin Balogun’s red card—which was subsequently lifted—as well as the Swiss administrator’s abandoned plan to sell a stake in Fifa events to private equity buyers.
“The allegations are a lot more serious. We now have this public and political concern and we felt it was time to again put pressure on the Fifa Ethics Committee and really lay down the gauntlet to them,” McGeehan said.
“Are you capable of holding your senior officials to account? That’s what we’re trying to do with this follow-up.”
In July, the International Olympic Committee dismissed a separate complaint by FairSquare targeting Infantino’s public support for Trump, concluding the issue fell outside its Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction.
Fifa has been contacted for comment.
Fifa’s Ethics Committee confirmed receipt of the original filing on December 12 last year, but “has provided no update since,” FairSquare noted in its letter.
The complaint lists eight specific incidents, alleging Infantino breached political neutrality by endorsing Trump’s political slogan and agenda, while also overstepping his authority by unilaterally establishing the Fifa Peace Prize without Fifa Council approval to present it to Trump.
Infantino is further accused of abusing his position by privately pursuing the Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme alongside politically connected investors, an initiative dropped following a global outcry.
FairSquare wants Infantino handed a two-year ban from football activities.
“But this complaint is about a lot more than Infantino,” McGeehan added. “Really, for us, it’s about demonstrating to the policymakers who should be scrutinising Fifa’s conduct and its governance that the organization is incapable of regulating itself.”
Infantino is seeking re-election for a fourth term as Fifa president in March, with no major rival standing against him. He remains intent on running despite renewed criticism of his leadership.
FairSquare asked Fifa last month to rule Infantino ineligible, contending he has already served the maximum three terms allowed under its statutes.
In 2022, Infantino successfully argued his first term, which started in 2016 following Sepp Blatter’s resignation, should not count towards the limit as it merely completed an interrupted mandate.
