Gianni Infantino Faces Pressure After Complaint Regarding His Ties to Donald Trump

Tuesday 08 September 2026 - 10:55

Pressure is mounting on Gianni Infantino. The British NGO FairSquare has approached FIFA's ethics committee to demand an investigation into several incidents related to the relationship between the president of the global football body and Donald Trump.

The organization believes that these actions may violate the obligations set forth in FIFA's Code of Ethics, particularly regarding political neutrality and loyalty. It primarily requests that the various incidents be examined as a whole rather than separately.

Eight Incidents Under Scrutiny

In an eight-page document reviewed by L'Équipe, FairSquare details eight incidents and presents them in chronological order.

The first four date back to 2025. The NGO cites two incidents related to FIFA awarding a peace prize to Donald Trump. It also mentions two supportive posts by Gianni Infantino on Instagram.

Four other events occurred in 2026. The report notably references the case involving American international Folarin Balogun as well as the ultimately abandoned idea of a "World Cup sale."

For FairSquare, the succession of these incidents does not represent isolated events. The organization believes they should be considered in their entirety to determine whether they are compatible with the responsibilities attached to the FIFA presidency.

FairSquare Suggests Possible Personal Gain

The British NGO makes particularly severe accusations against Gianni Infantino. It believes that his conduct towards Donald Trump could indicate a significant breach of his obligations regarding political neutrality and loyalty.

FairSquare goes further by suggesting that some elements of the case might imply that the FIFA leader sought to gain personal benefits from his closeness to the American president.

However, these accusations remain those of the organization that initiated the complaint. The referral to the ethics committee does not, in itself, constitute a conclusion regarding any potential breaches by Gianni Infantino.

A Campaign That Has Lasted Several Months

This new approach is part of a broader campaign led by FairSquare against the FIFA president.

At the end of July, the NGO had already faced a setback after the International Olympic Committee rejected a complaint regarding alleged violations of the principle of political neutrality. In August, it also requested that FIFA prevent Gianni Infantino from running in the upcoming presidential election of the organization.

With this new filing, FairSquare now wishes for the eight recorded incidents to undergo ethical examination.

Nicholas McGeehan, director and co-founder of the organization, believes that the absence of a response from FIFA regarding these accusations could raise questions about the institution's ability to ensure its own governance.

FIFA, contacted by L'Équipe, has not responded to requests for comment.

Proximity to Trump Becomes a Political Issue for Infantino

Beyond the ethical procedure, the matter arises at a particularly sensitive time for Gianni Infantino. The upcoming election for the FIFA presidency is approaching, and criticisms of his governance are taking on a new dimension.

His relationship with Donald Trump, already regularly commented upon, is thus becoming a subject that could impact his image within the football world.

So far, no conclusion has been reached by the ethics committee regarding the eight incidents mentioned by FairSquare. However, this new complaint adds another layer to the controversies surrounding the Italian-Swiss leader and could fuel debates about how FIFA intends to maintain its political independence.