EU Lawmakers Demand Gianni Infantino Be Investigated Over Undisclosed Contacts With Donald Trump: More Than Twenty Members of the European Parliament File a Formal Request to the FIFA Ethics Committee Citing Concerns About FIFA’s Independence and Integrity During the 2026 World Cup
According to ESPN, more than 20 members of the European Parliament have written to FIFA’s ethics committee demanding a formal investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his contacts with U.S. President Donald Trump; contacts which they allege have never been publicly disclosed or officially sanctioned.
The lawmakers argue that Infantino’s relationship with Trump creates a direct conflict of interest given that the United States is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026.
They contend that undisclosed meetings between the president of the world’s governing football body and the head of government of a World Cup host nation; combined with Infantino’s reported presence at Trump’s inauguration and his appointment to an informal U.S. advisory role constitute a serious breach of FIFA’s stated commitment to political neutrality and institutional independence.
The complaint alleges that Infantino has acted as an informal advisor to Trump on international matters, including trade, while simultaneously negotiating on behalf of FIFA with the U.S. government over tournament logistics, television rights and visa arrangements for the 2026 tournament.
FIFA said the organisation and its president “work with governments of all political backgrounds” and denied any impropriety. The ethics committee has not confirmed whether it will open a formal investigation.
The World Cup is the most watched sporting event on Earth. The person who runs it sitting in the White House’s informal advisory circle while that same White House hosts the tournament is not a technicality. The EU Parliament is right to ask.
Check out our previous coverage of FIFA, World Cup 2026 and football governance on The Trusted Times.
