A formal complaint accusing Fifa president Gianni Infantino of abusing his power has attracted more than 100,000 signatures, intensifying pressure on football's governing body ahead of a pivotal presidential election year.
The complaint, organized under the banner of the Reboot Fifa campaign, was formally lodged with Fifa's ethics committee on Tuesday. It alleges that Infantino has, at minimum, "abused his power, violated his duty of political neutrality, and violated his duty of loyalty" through his dealings with US President Donald Trump.
Reboot Fifa was launched ahead of the World Cup with the stated goal of compiling what organizers describe as the largest complaint ever received by Fifa concerning governance failures. Since its inception, the campaign has broadened its focus to include the controversial reversal of a red card issued to United States forward Folarin Balogun during the tournament, as well as the collapsed Fifa Forward Enterprise initiative.
The advocacy group Fair Square, which coordinates the campaign, submitted a supporting letter urging the ethics committee to act decisively. This follows an earlier complaint filed in December that reportedly went unanswered by the committee, despite gaining support from the Norwegian football federation and a group of 50 European parliamentarians.
In its letter, Fair Square emphasized the scale of public backing the new complaint has received. "The fact that 100,000 individuals added their names to this call for accountability is clear evidence of mounting public concern," the organization stated. It further pressed the ethics committee, describing it as "the independent judicial body tasked with the critical task of upholding the 'integrity and reputation of football,'" and insisted the panel "must not only act, it must be seen to act with appropriate haste, transparency and rigour."
The complaint outlines eight specific incidents that Fair Square says demonstrate a pattern of behavior by Infantino aimed at currying favor with the American president. Among the most notable is the Balogun incident, in which Trump himself acknowledged requesting that Fifa review the red card decision. The dossier also references the troubled Fifa Forward Enterprise scandal, Infantino's role in Trump's Middle East peace initiative known as the Board of Peace, and the controversial decision to present Trump with a Fifa peace prize.
Additionally, the complaint cites remarks Infantino reportedly made pledging to collaborate with Trump to "make not only America great again but also the entire world" — language Fair Square argues represents a clear departure from the political neutrality expected of a Fifa president.
When contacted for a response, Fifa directed inquiries to a statement it had issued roughly a month earlier. "It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine Fifa and its president," the organization said at the time, adding that "those who do not have the support of Fifa's member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through Fifa's established democratic processes."
The timing of the complaint's growing momentum coincides with confirmation from Fifa on Sunday that Infantino intends to pursue re-election for what would be his fourth and final term next year. This announcement comes despite vocal opposition from Uefa, along with criticism emerging from within both the Asian football confederation and Concacaf, which governs football across North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Uefa has gone further than most in its public stance, explicitly calling for Infantino's resignation. The European body has also signaled its intention to pursue criminal claims in the United States connected to the Fifa Forward Enterprise plans, adding another layer of legal complexity to the mounting controversy surrounding Fifa's leadership.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.