The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected a complaint lodged by the human rights group FairSquare against FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The IOC stated on Friday that the complaint, which alleged Infantino breached the IOC's rules on political neutrality, fell outside the jurisdiction of its Ethics Commission.

FairSquare had filed the complaint on July 14, accusing Infantino of repeatedly offering political support to US President Donald Trump. The group argued this action constituted a breach of the IOC's code of ethics. Infantino, who has been an IOC member since 2020, has previously faced scrutiny for public appearances alongside Trump.

An IOC spokesperson explained that the Ethics Commission had thoroughly analyzed the complaint. The commission determined that the issues raised pertained to FIFA's internal governance, management, and its relationships with governments, as well as the implementation of the rules of its sport. These matters, the spokesperson noted, are outside the scope of the IOC Code of Ethics.

The IOC has informed FairSquare of its decision. This ruling means the complaint will not proceed through the IOC's ethics review process. FairSquare has indicated it would escalate its campaign, having previously filed a similar complaint with FIFA's Ethics Committee last year.

FairSquare's complaint highlighted several instances where Infantino appeared with Donald Trump. One notable event was their joint appearance at the World Cup final trophy presentation ceremony, which was met with boos from the crowd. The human rights group's allegations centered on Infantino's public endorsements and support for Trump's policies and actions, which they deemed a violation of the IOC's principles of political neutrality.

During the recent World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, Trump was involved in several controversial incidents. He had reportedly contacted Infantino to request a review of a red card issued to US player Folarin Balogun. Although Balogun was suspended for a subsequent match, he was later allowed to play after the review.

FairSquare has been actively challenging FIFA's ethics processes. Their previous complaint to FIFA's Ethics Committee also focused on Infantino's alleged public support for President Trump. The group's ongoing campaign aims to hold Infantino accountable for what they perceive as a disregard for the IOC's ethical guidelines regarding political engagement.

The IOC's decision underscores the distinction between the governance of international sports federations and the ethical conduct expected of their members in relation to political neutrality. The rejection leaves FairSquare to pursue its concerns through other avenues, potentially focusing on FIFA's own internal review mechanisms.