FIFA President Infantino Faces Ethics Complaint Over Trump Ties
Human rights group FairSquare alleges abuse of power and breaches of duty linked to Donald Trump.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made

Ist als FIFA-Präsident umstritten: Gianni Infantino. (Archivbild) Foto: Sam Hodde/AP/dpa
Photograph: saarbruecker-zeitung.de (embedded from source)
What this story says
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces a new complaint filed by the human rights organization FairSquare with the FIFA Ethics Commission.
- The complaint, signed by over 100,000 people, alleges Infantino abused his power and violated his duties of political neutrality and loyalty.
- FairSquare claims the allegations are linked to Infantino's interactions with former US President Donald Trump, citing the Balogun affair and a proposed investor deal.
- Infantino has denied any influence from Trump on his actions.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 20 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 37 of the 57 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
42/100
Craft
59/100
Hype
65/100
57 sources · methodology
The human rights organization FairSquare has lodged a complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino with the FIFA Ethics Commission. The complaint alleges that Infantino has abused his power, violated his duty of political neutrality, and breached his duty of loyalty. Over 100,000 individuals have signed the complaint.
According to FairSquare, the allegations stem from Infantino's interactions with former US President Donald Trump. The complaint references specific incidents, including the Balogun affair and a proposed investor deal for the marketing of World Cups. Infantino has consistently denied that Trump influenced his actions.
Disagreement on specific allegations
Saarbrücker Zeitung, citing the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, reported that four of the eight incidents mentioned were part of a previous complaint filed in December 2025. This earlier complaint was submitted after the controversial awarding of a FIFA peace prize to Trump. Saarbrücker Zeitung also detailed Infantino's role in the Balogun affair, where a US striker's ban was withdrawn after a call from Trump, and a plan to sell World Cup marketing rights to private investors, including Joshua Kushner, whose brother is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka. This plan was halted due to public outcry. Other reports do not detail these specific incidents or the history of previous complaints.
What the coverage left out
None of the left-rated digests mention the specific details of the Balogun affair or the proposed investor deal that were included in the full report from Saarbrücker Zeitung. Similarly, none of the centre-rated digests provide these specific details. The right-rated digests also do not mention the Balogun affair or the investor deal.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 1 time, most recently on 8 Sept 2026, 22:00, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
8 rated outlets
- Left-rated reports led on the number of signatures and the core allegations against Infantino. Multiple outlets highlighted that over 100,000 people signed the complaint. The accusations of abuse of power, violation of political neutrality, and breach of loyalty were consistently mentioned. Several reports also specified that the complaint was related to Infantino's ties with Donald Trump. The Hindu noted that 'more than one lakh people want FIFA to investigate Infantino-Trump ties'. Breaking News and The Independent stated that the Fifa president 'has abused his power, violated his duty of political neutrality, and violated his duty of loyalty' through his interactions. Irish Examiner reported that the letter alleges the Fifa president ‘has abused his power’.
Centre
4 rated outlets
- Centre-rated reports focused on the complaint filed by FairSquare and its connection to Donald Trump. Reuters reported that 'More than 100,000 people have signed a complaint demanding that FIFA investigate President Gianni Infantino for alleged breaches of the world soccer governing body's code of ethics related to his connections with U.S. President Donald Trump'. Saarbrücker Zeitung and Volksfreund.de reported on the complaint to the Ethics Commission against FIFA boss Infantino, with Saarbrücker Zeitung providing more detail on the specific allegations and historical context, including the Balogun affair and the investor deal. WZ.de also reported on the complaint to the Ethics Commission.
Right
8 rated outlets
- Right-rated reports highlighted the large number of signatures and the accusations against Infantino, often linking them directly to Donald Trump. The Sun stated that 'More than 100,000 people have signed a complaint against Fifa boss Gianni Infantino'. Sapo reported that the 'Relationship with Trump Puts Infantino Under Pressure: over 100,000 Demand Investigation From FIFA President'. Il Tempo's headline read 'Fifa, over 100,000 Signatures Against Infantino: "He Abused His Power with Trump"'. Libertad Digital reported that Infantino 'Is Denounced Before the Ethics Commission for Abusing His Power to Please Trump'. BT noted that Infantino 'Receives New Complaint After Trump Episodes'. Die Presse and Kronen Zeitung also reported on the complaint to the Ethics Commission, with Kronen Zeitung quoting 'Convincing Evidence!'.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover FIFA President Infantino Faces Ethics Complaint Over Trump Ties?
- Of the 20 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 40% are rated left, 20% are rated centre, 40% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 57. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is FIFA President Infantino Faces Ethics Complaint Over Trump Ties left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 20 rated outlets on this story, 40% are rated left, 20% are rated centre, 40% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of FIFA President Infantino Faces Ethics Complaint Over Trump Ties biased?
- FIFA President Infantino Faces Ethics Complaint Over Trump Ties is one event reported by 57 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered FIFA President Infantino Faces Ethics Complaint Over Trump Ties?
- 57 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What is the complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino?
- The human rights organization FairSquare has filed a complaint with the FIFA Ethics Commission against Gianni Infantino. The complaint alleges that Infantino abused his power, violated his duty of political neutrality, and breached his duty of loyalty, with the allegations linked to his interactions with former US President Donald Trump.
- How many people have signed the complaint?
- Over 100,000 people have signed the complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This large number of signatures underscores the significant public backing for the allegations raised by the human rights organization FairSquare.
- What specific incidents are mentioned in relation to the complaint?
- The complaint references incidents related to former US President Donald Trump, including the Balogun affair and a proposed investor deal for the marketing of World Cups. Infantino has denied any influence from Trump on his actions.
Read it at the source
57 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
8- 100,000 Signatures Against Infantino... Charges of Abuse of Power and Bias Against Triumpe. (opens aljazeera.net in a new tab)
aljazeera.net — is aljazeera.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Over 100,000 demand Fifa probe into Gianni Infantino over alleged Trump links (opens The Independent (US) in a new tab)
The Independent (US) — is The Independent (US) biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Over 100,000 demand Fifa probe into Gianni Infantino over alleged Trump links (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- More than one lakh people want FIFA to investigate Infantino-Trump ties, says human rights organisation (opens The Hindu in a new tab)
- Infantino Pod Najvećim Pritiskom Do Sad. 100,000 Ljudi Potpisalo Zahtjev Za Istragom (opens IndexHR in a new tab)
- More than 100,000 Protesters Against Gianni Infantino (opens delo.si in a new tab)
- More than 100,000 people add names to complaint against Gianni Infantino (opens Irish Examiner in a new tab)
Irish Examiner — is Irish Examiner biased? Our profile of this outlet
- More than 100,000 people add names to complaint against Gianni Infantino (opens Breaking News in a new tab)
Breaking News — is Breaking News biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
4- More than 100,000 back complaint over Infantino's Trump ties, says FairSquare (opens Reuters in a new tab)
- Complaint to the Ethics Commission Against FIFA CEO Infantino (opens wz.de in a new tab)
- Football: Complaint to the Ethics Commission Against FIFA Boss Infantino (opens volksfreund.de in a new tab)
volksfreund.de — is volksfreund.de biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Football: Complaint to the Ethics Commission Against FIFA Boss Infantino (opens saarbruecker-zeitung.de in a new tab)
saarbruecker-zeitung.de — is saarbruecker-zeitung.de biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
8- More than 100,000 sign complaint against Infantino for 'violating his duty' (opens The Sun in a new tab)
- Relationship with Trump Puts Infantino Under Pressure: over 100,000 Demand Investigation From FIFA President (opens Sapo in a new tab)
- Fifa, over 100,000 Signatures Against Infantino: "He Abused His Power with Trump" (opens Il Tempo in a new tab)
- Infantino Is Denounced Before the Ethics Commission for Abusing His Power to Please Trump (opens Libertad Digital in a new tab)
Libertad Digital — is Libertad Digital biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Criticism Has Rained Down: Infantino Receives New Complaint After Trump Episodes (opens BT in a new tab)
- “He Has Violated His Duty of Political Neutrality”: FIFA President Infantino Faces yet Another Complaint (opens Het Laatste Nieuws in a new tab)
Het Laatste Nieuws — is Het Laatste Nieuws biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Complaint to the Ethics Commission Against FIFA CEO Infantino (opens Die Presse in a new tab)
Die Presse — is Die Presse biased? Our profile of this outlet
- "Convincing Evidence!" Complaint Against Infantino (opens Kronen Zeitung in a new tab)
Kronen Zeitung — is Kronen Zeitung biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
37- Childish, Against President FIFA Comes a Complaint to the Ethics Committee. Here Are the Reasons (opens tuttojuve.com in a new tab)
tuttojuve.comOpinion
- "War" Against Infantino: Over 100,000 Signatures in Mammoth Complaint About Relations with Trump (opens onsports.gr in a new tab)
onsports.gr
- "He Wants to Attract Trump's Favors": Gianni Infantino Targeted by a Complaint to the Fifa Ethics Commission (opens parismatch.com in a new tab)
parismatch.com — is parismatch.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Over 100,000 Signatures Against Infantino: Denounced to the Ethics Committee for Its Ties with Trump. (opens Calcio News 24 in a new tab)
Calcio News 24 — is Calcio News 24 biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Infantino, over 100,000 Signatures Against President FIFA Accused of Abuse of Power (opens Calcio e Finanza in a new tab)
Calcio e Finanza — is Calcio e Finanza biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FIFA: More than 100,000 Signatures in Complaint Against Gianni Infantino (opens ieidiseis.gr in a new tab)
ieidiseis.gr — is ieidiseis.gr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- New Complaint Against FIFA over Ties with Trump (opens zougla.gr in a new tab)
- Gianni Infantino: Complaints with 100,000+ Signatures About Relations with Trump (opens Libre in a new tab)
Show 29 more
- "They Are Squeezing" Infantino: Over 100,000 Signatures Against the FIFA President (opens NewsBomb in a new tab)
- Rights Group Files Complaint Against Infantino to FIFA Committee (opens tvsarawak.my in a new tab)
tvsarawak.my — is tvsarawak.my biased? Our profile of this outlet
- New Complaint Against Infantino: “Abuse of Power for Trump” (opens voetbalnieuws.be in a new tab)
voetbalnieuws.be — is voetbalnieuws.be biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Over 100,000 Join Complaint Against FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino (opens frognews.bg in a new tab)
frognews.bg — is frognews.bg biased? Our profile of this outlet
- A Human Rights Organisation Denounces Infantino for “Abusing His Power” (opens The Objective in a new tab)
The Objective — is The Objective biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Infantino in the Biggest Crisis of His Mandate: A New Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Him (opens jabuka.tv in a new tab)
- More than 100,000 People Have Joined the "Largest Complaint Ever Made Against FIFA" (opens delfi.lv in a new tab)
- FIFA: "Bombshell" for Infantino – Over 100,000 Signatures Denounce Abuse of Power and Relations with Trump (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
- Infantino Is the Target of New Complaint in Fifa in Relation to Trump (opens Poder360 in a new tab)
- Gianni Infantino Is Reported for Alleged Ethical Violations in Fifa (opens CNN Brasil in a new tab)
CNN Brasil — is CNN Brasil biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Gianni Infantino Is Reported for Abuse of Power in Command of Fifa (opens gazetaweb.com in a new tab)
gazetaweb.com — is gazetaweb.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- More than 100,000 people add names to complaint against Gianni Infantino (opens online-listing.com in a new tab)
online-listing.com — is online-listing.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- More than 100,000 sign complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino (opens Cryptocurrency News in a new tab)
Cryptocurrency News — is Cryptocurrency News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- More than 100,000 sign complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino (opens Crypto Briefing in a new tab)
Crypto Briefing — is Crypto Briefing biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Fifa Has Received a New Complaint Against Infantino - About Trump Episodes (opens Nettavisen in a new tab)
Nettavisen — is Nettavisen biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Fifa Has Received a New Complaint Against Infantino - About Trump Episodes (opens VG in a new tab)
- Human Rights Group Files New Complaint with FIFA over Infa (opens Nieuws.nl in a new tab)
- FIFA: Gianni Infantino, new complaint filed (opens frenchfootballweekly.com in a new tab)
frenchfootballweekly.com
- 100,000 Har Signert: Mener Infantino Har Brutt Fifa-Regulator Åtte Ganger (opens NRK in a new tab)
- Complaint to the Ethics Commission Against FIFA CEO Infantino (opens suedtirolnews.it in a new tab)
suedtirolnews.it — is suedtirolnews.it biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FIFA: Gianni Infantino, New Complaint Filed (opens football-addict in a new tab)
football-addict — is football-addict biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Appeal Against FIFA CEO Infantino to Ethics Commission (opens vienna.at in a new tab)
- FIFA: Gianni Infantino, New Complaint Filed (opens Sports.fr in a new tab)
- FIFA: Gianni Infantino, New Complaint Filed (opens Football.fr in a new tab)
Football.fr — is Football.fr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- British NGO FairSquare takes Infantino to FIFA Ethics Committee (opens GBC Ghana Online in a new tab)
GBC Ghana Online — is GBC Ghana Online biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Complaint to the Ethics Commission Against FIFA CEO Infantino (opens onetz.de in a new tab)
- Complaint to the Ethics Commission Against FIFA CEO Infantino (opens noz.de in a new tab)
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino Affected by New Complaint (opens SOFOOT.com in a new tab)
SOFOOT.com — is SOFOOT.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Proximity to Trump: New Ethical Complaint Against Infantino (opens sportschau.de in a new tab)
sportschau.de — is sportschau.de biased? Our profile of this outlet
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