The top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, Jamie Raskin, has launched an investigation into Fifa president Gianni Infantino, demanding documents detailing ties between soccer's governing body and Donald Trump and his administration.
In a Sunday letter, Raskin requested that Fifa provide any documents and communications related to gifts, payments or benefits provided to Trump and his associates, as well as visitor logs for Fifa's office in Trump Tower, which it acquired last year. The committee also requested that Infantino sit for a transcribed interview.
Background of Trump-Infantino ties
The relationship came under scrutiny during the World Cup. In December, Trump was awarded a newly created 'Fifa peace prize' at the Kennedy Center. Fifa opened its office in Trump Tower last July. During the tournament, Trump made several calls to Infantino to lobby for a review of US striker Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension. Fifa reversed the ban. Trump later joined Infantino for the World Cup trophy presentation after the final, where they were met with boos.
Raskin's concerns over ethics and ticketing
Raskin's letter references the Department of Justice's decision to 'dismiss the indictments' of defendants in US investigations into soccer corruption. Raskin wrote: '[Y]our election as Fifa president was supposed to mark a red-card break from a decades-long culture of corruption... Instead, at the start of your tenure, you dismantled Fifa's ethical guardrails...' He described the tactics as 'legal bribery' according to a New York University law professor.
The letter also addresses Fifa's World Cup ticketing policy, subject to investigations by several US attorneys general. The use of dynamic pricing drew criticism for pricing out fans. Raskin said: 'The most recent quid pro quo that Fifa and President Trump orchestrated is not a victimless crime. It hurts Americans... Fifa has taken its newfound favored status... to rip off its consumers... by employing illegal price-gouging and fraudulent sales tactics.'
Deadline and response
The letter gives a deadline of 9 August to provide documents and schedule the interview. Raskin does not have the power to compel Infantino to appear unless he garners Republican support. Earlier on Monday, Infantino used a 15-part Instagram message to denounce critics, accusing them of spreading hate and false narratives. More than 200 Fifa members have endorsed Infantino ahead of the March presidential election, but some associations oppose him, including the Norwegian federation planning to file a complaint over Trump's role in the Balogun ban.
