BRUSSELS (AP) — Dozens of European lawmakers are gathering support to launch an investigation in the European Parliament of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino over his involvement in the decision to permit U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play despite an earlier red card.
Balogun was shown a red card during the U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, which normally would make him ineligible to play in team's next game, but FIFA lifted his suspension for a match on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened with Infantino on behalf of the 25-year-old striker.
European Parliament lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement that FIFAs decision to “change the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice.”
“Once again, we’ve seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration," the statement said.
The lawmakers are asking the national football associations of the EU countries to spur the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino and whether pressure from the Trump administration was a factor in the lifting of the suspension, as well as "other potential breaches of political neutrality" like awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.
FIFA has said the lifting of the suspension was a decision of a disciplinary committee.
The lawmakers said that 35 colleagues have so far signed the letter.
“The beauty of sport is that it is based on impartial and transparent rules. When Infantino allows political pressure to determine who gets to play, this sense of fairness goes out the window,” they said.
FILE - President Donald Trump holds up a red card during a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
MIAMI (AP) — Jakob Marsee hit a game-ending single off the wall in right field in the 10th inning, and the Miami Marlins beat the Seattle Mariners 6-5 on Tuesday night.
With runners at the corners and one out, Marsee hit a high drive against Michael Rucker (0-2) to easily score automatic runner Xavier Edwards.
Cade Gibson (2-0) got three outs in the top half, erasing automatic runner Weston Wilson on his first pitch when he induced a fielder's-choice grounder to shortstop by Cal Raleigh.
Pinch-hitter Heriberto Hernández led off the eighth for the Marlins with a 422-foot homer to left, his 12th of the season, to tie the game at 5-all. Owen Caissie also hit his 12th for Miami, a solo shot in the second.
Marsee drove in a run with a third-inning single on his 2-for-4 night.
Raleigh doubled twice, including a run-scoring two-bagger during the Mariners' three-run eighth inning. Josh Naylor followed with a chopper through the right side to score Randy Arozarena from third. Naylor advanced to second on an interference call against Marlins second baseman Edwards and later scored on a wild pitch by Calvin Faucher to put Seattle ahead 5-4.
Cole Young homered in the fifth for the Mariners, who erased an early 4-0 deficit.
RHP George Kirby (7-7, 3.81 ERA) will start for the Mariners on Wednesday against Marlins RHP Tyler Phillips (1-3, 3.52).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Seattle Mariners' Josh Naylor hits a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins relief pitcher Calvin Faucher (53 ) tags out Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Seattle Mariners' Josh Naylor (12) and Miami Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards exchange words during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins' Jakob Marsee bunts the ball during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
