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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected a complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over allegations that he violated rules on political neutrality through his support for United States President Donald Trump.
The complaint, submitted by human rights organisation FairSquare, accused Infantino of repeatedly breaching the IOC’s neutrality rules by publicly backing Trump.
However, an IOC spokesperson told AFP on Friday that the Ethics Commission had reviewed the complaint and concluded it fell outside its jurisdiction.
According to the IOC, international sports federations operate independently under the Olympic Charter, making governance issues involving FIFA a matter for the football body rather than the Olympic movement.
“The IOC Ethics Commission thoroughly analysed the complaint by FairSquare,” the spokesperson told AFP.
“The commission noticed that, pursuant to the Olympic Charter, each International Federation (IF) maintains its independence and autonomy in its governance.
“The complaint falls outside the IOC Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction”.
The complaint centred on the Olympic oath, which requires IOC members, including Infantino, to act independently of political and commercial interests.
The IOC had also dismissed concerns earlier this year over Infantino’s appearance at a meeting of the Board of Peace convened by Trump, where he wore a red cap bearing the inscription “USA” and “45-47” in reference to Trump’s two presidential terms.
At the time, the IOC said it had been in contact with FIFA and noted that the football body was supporting a sports recovery programme in Gaza through infrastructure, education and elite development initiatives.
The Olympic body said those efforts aligned with FIFA’s role as an international sports federation and reflected similar support the IOC provides in the region through Olympic Solidarity.
“The IOC has been in contact with FIFA,” an IOC spokesperson told AFP in February.
In December, FIFA presented Trump with its inaugural Peace Prize, with Infantino saying the award recognised what he described as the US president’s exceptional efforts to promote peace and unity.
Trump also claimed during the FIFA World Cup in North America that he personally contacted Infantino before the governing body suspended the one-match ban imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun following a red card.
