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Sports

IOC won’t investigate Infantino over Trump’s Balogun red card call

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The International Olympic Committee announced Friday it will not investigate Gianni Infantino regarding President Donald Trump’s call to him about Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card.

The USMNT star received a red card in the round of 32 of the World Cup, which initially made him ineligible to play in the next round.

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

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Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino hold the FIFA World Cup trophy.

President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the FIFA World Cup winner’s trophy before handing it over to Spain captain Rodri at the award ceremony following the FIFA World Cup 2026 final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The ruling added to what was already a huge controversy. Critics argued Balogun should not have been red-carded in the first place. Nonetheless, Balogun was active despite an appeal and a strong reaction from Belgium.

A London-based NGO formally complained this month to the IOC ethics commission about Infantino. The IOC’s Olympic Charter cites neutrality among “fundamental principles of Olympism” for sports bodies like FIFA and its 100-plus members, which have included Infantino since 2020.

No formal investigation will be opened, the IOC said, because the complaint by the rights group FairSquare did not relate to FIFA’s or Infantino’s specific relations with the Olympic body.

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The complaint “refers only to (FIFA’s) decisions on its governance and its management, including its relations with government, and to (FIFA’s) implementation of the rules of its sport,” the IOC said in a statement.

Donald Trump speaks beside Gianni Infantino at Trump Tower.

President Donald Trump speaks alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City July 17, 2026. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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

“Consequently, the complaint falls outside the IOC ethics commission’s jurisdiction,” the statement continued.

“All I did was I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said at the time. “And, again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything, that would be different.

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“I think it’s a terrible … if they wouldn’t allow a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best on the team, to play. I think it would have had a big stain. I relayed it. I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, No. 1, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players.”

Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend a match with Gianni Infantino at a stadium.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the FIFA Club World Cup 2026 final match with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 13, 2026. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

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Balogun being active did not help. The U.S. lost to Belgium, 4-1.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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5 biggest delinquents after the 2026 Hungarian GP

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The F1 penalty points system has been put in place to keep the driving standards in the sport above a certain level. These were introduced in 2014 after the driving standards took a dip in the early 2010s, and there were quite a few incidents on the track. We even had Romain Grosjean getting banned in 2012 for the first-lap incident in Belgium.

As part of the Penalty Points system, drivers are given points based on the severity of their transgressions. These transgressions could be dangerous driving, causing a collision, etc. These points stay with the driver for 12 months, after which they expire.

Any driver who ends up accumulating 12 F1 penalty points faces a race ban. As we get ready to move on from the F1 Hungarian GP, who are the biggest delinquents on the grid? Let’s take a look.

F1 Penalty Points: Who is close to a ban?

#1. Ollie Bearman

Penalty Points: 4

Ollie Bearman now has 4 F1 penalty points to his name.

  • One point: Change of direction while defending during the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP (expires on December 7, 2026).
  • One point: Causing a collision with Liam Lawson at the 2025 Brazilian GP sprint (expires on November 8, 2026).
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Carlos Sainz at the 2025 Italian GP (expires on September 7, 2026).

#2. Kimi Antonelli

Penalty Points: 3

Kimi Antonelli has three F1 penalty points on his superlicense.

  • Two points: Causing a collision with Charles Leclerc in the 2025 F1 Dutch GP (expires on August 31, 2026)
  • One point: Forcing another driver off the track at the 2025 F1 Italian GP (expires on September 7, 2026)

#3. Lewis Hamilton

Penalty Points: 3

The seven-time F1 champion was issued a penalty point for his incident with Franco Colapinto. He’s now at 3 points.

  • One point: Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto during the 2025 F1 Brazilian GP (expires on November 9, 2026)
  • Two points: for failing to slow down under yellow flags during a reconnaissance lap prior to the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix (expires on August 31, 2026)

#4. Alex Albon

Penalty Points: 3

Alex Albon has three penalty points on his license.

  • One point: Causing a collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Las Vegas GP (expires on November 23, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto at the Azerbaijan GP (expires on September 21, 2026)

#5. Lance Stroll

Penalty Points: 3

Lance Stroll is currently at three F1 penalty points on his license.

  • One point: Change of direction while defending during the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP (expires on December 7, 2026).
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Esteban Ocon at the US GP sprint (expires on October 18, 2026)