FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been summoned to appear before the US Congress as part of an investigation into his organization's ties with former President Donald Trump. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Infantino on Sunday demanding documents and communications related to any gifts, payments, or benefits provided to Trump and his associates.
Scope of the Investigation
Raskin's letter specifically requests visitor logs for FIFA's office space in Trump Tower, which the organization acquired last year. The committee also wants Infantino to sit for a transcribed interview. The deadline for compliance is August 9, though Raskin lacks the power to compel Infantino's appearance without Republican support.
The probe focuses on several controversial interactions between FIFA and the Trump administration. In December, at the World Cup draw in Washington, Trump received a newly created FIFA Peace Prize at the Kennedy Center, where renovations were allegedly rushed on the administration's orders.
World Cup Controversies
During the World Cup, Trump made multiple calls to Infantino lobbying for a review of US striker Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension. FIFA reversed the ban, drawing criticism from other teams and associations. Trump later joined Infantino for the trophy presentation after the final, where both were met with boos from the crowd.
Raskin's letter references the Department of Justice's decision to dismiss indictments in corruption investigations into global soccer, including the 2015 prosecution of over 20 FIFA officials. "Your election as FIFA president was supposed to mark a red-card break from a decades-long culture of corruption," Raskin wrote, accusing Infantino of dismantling ethical guardrails and enabling "legal bribery" with the Trump administration.
Ticket Pricing Scrutiny
The investigation also addresses FIFA's World Cup ticketing policy, which is already under review by several US attorneys general. Dynamic pricing led to significant price surges, pricing out many fans. Raskin called the pricing tactics "illegal price-gouging and fraudulent sales tactics."
FIFA's interactions with the US government are expected to continue, with the US likely to host the Women's World Cup in 2031 and potentially the men's tournament in 2038. Infantino earlier defended himself on Instagram, calling the World Cup a success and accusing critics of spreading hate.
