72 European Parliament members call for investigation into FIFA president Infantino.

72 members of the European Parliament have called for an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino following FIFA's recent lifting of a suspension imposed on 22‑year‑old American footballer Furlan Barogin. The young player had originally been sent off with a red card for a foul during a match, but FIFA abruptly reversed the sanction, sparking widespread controversy.

The European Parliament is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union, working alongside the European Council to enact EU law. Comprising 720 members, the Parliament represents the world’s second‑largest electorate, with roughly 370 million voters. Since its first direct elections in 1979, Parliament members are elected every five years. In recent years, voter turnout for European Parliament elections has gradually fallen, only rising by eight percentage points in 2019, the first time turnout surpassed 50 percent.

In this incident, the 72 parliamentarians questioned FIFA’s decision and urged an inquiry into Infantino’s conduct. They contend that FIFA’s action may contravene principles of fairness and justice, or that undisclosed deals or conflicts of interest may be involved. As the governing body of international football, FIFA’s decisions should adhere to clear rules and procedures; otherwise, the sport’s integrity and credibility are at risk.

European Parliament involvement could influence FIFA’s decision‑making process, compelling the organisation to operate with greater transparency and accountability. The international football community must also pay close attention to the matter to safeguard the sport’s fairness and trustworthiness. As one of the world’s most popular sports, football requires a just and impartial governing body to ensure fair competition and protect players’ rights.

For Taiwan, the incident underscores the importance of transparent decision‑making in international organisations for upholding fairness and justice. Although the event has no direct bearing on Taiwan, it reflects a global pursuit of equity. Taiwan’s football community can also draw lessons from the case, reflecting on its own governance and decision‑making procedures to ensure sustainable development and fairness in Taiwanese football.