FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has been referred to Olympics ethics investigators amid concerns about US President Donald Trump’s controversial intervention in a World Cup red card.

Human rights group FairSquare says Infantino – who became an IOC member in 2020 – has repeatedly breached the Olympic Charter and the IOC’s code of ethics, most recently in his handling of the Folarin Balogun affair.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee controversially suspended the United States striker’s one-match ban a week ago, freeing him to play in their World Cup last-16 match against Belgium.

The US eventually lost the match 4-1.

But the decision that allowed Balogun to play remains controversial because it followed a call from Trump to Infantino, who has insisted that FIFA’s committees are entirely independent.

“All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul. And, you know, again, I’m good at this stuff,” Trump said to justify his intervention.

On Tuesday (local time), Britain’s Times newspaper reported that FIFA disciplinary committee chair Mohammad Al Kamali made the key decision to suspend the ban alone, having never been the sole arbiter in any published previous disciplinary cases.

FIFA has offered no explanation of why Balogun’s ban was suspended.

Balogun spoke about the ban this week for the first time.

“My initial reaction was I was happy to be back in the team. But when I kind of started to reflect, I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy,” he told CBS News.

“I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves because it was something that’s so unique.

“But the closer we got to the game, I tried to just focus as best as I could. But it was difficult – a lot of outside noise, and that’s hard to avoid.”

FairSquare’s complaint alleges five clear breaches of the IOC’s rules on political neutrality, along with “prima facie” evidence of two further serious breaches – including the handling of the Balogun case.

FairSquare made a similar complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee in December. It said it had received acknowledgement of that complaint but nothing further.

The Norwegian football federation wrote to the FIFA ethics committee last month requesting it consider FairSquare’s complaint.

Fifty members of the European Parliament wrote to the same committee on June 29 urging it to address FairSquare’s complaint.

The Spaniards celebrate their win over France, which has propelled them into the World Cup final. Photo: AAP

Spain topples flat France to make it to final

Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro have fired a ruthless Spain into the World Cup final as France’s quest for glory fell apart in Dallas.

Oyarzabal’s 22nd-minute penalty – his fifth goal of the tournament – coupled with Tottenham fullback Porro’s assured second-half finish secured a 2-0 win for the European champions on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).

In doing so, they denied French legend Didier Deschamps a third successive final as his 14-year-old reign drew to a heartbreaking close.

In the process Spain, which will face either England or Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday (Monday AEST), extended its unbeaten run to a record-equalling 37 games on a night when Les Bleus’ big names simply did not turn up.

Bradley Barcola, preferred to Desire Doue in Deschamps’ starting line-up, served warning of his intent with an early surge down the left wing. But it was the Spaniards who threatened when, after Alex Baena had drilled a free kick harmlessly into the defensive wall, Lamine Yamal latched on to the rebound to send in a deft 11th-minute cross which was ultimately smuggled away.

With star men Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe largely subdued, favourite France struggled to make an impression.

Indeed, it was Spain that went ahead with 22 minutes gone when, after Lucas Digne had brought down the onrushing Yamal inside the area as he tried to clear, Oyarzabal smashed the resulting penalty emphatically past keeper Mike Maignan.

The French were dealt a second blow on the half-hour when central defender William Saliba, who had been nursing a back problem, limped off gingerly to be replaced by Maxence Lacroix.

They were briefly encouraged when Barcola cut inside and sent a 36th-minute shot over. However, they might have fallen further behind within two minutes when Yamal played a one-two with Dani Olmo before picking out Fabian Ruiz, whose stabbed attempt was blocked by Dayot Upamecano.

Unai Simon had to race from his penalty area to intercept Adrien Rabiot’s 42nd-minute through-ball for Mbappe, but the Spain keeper otherwise enjoyed an unexpectedly comfortable first half.

Luis de la Fuente’s men picked up where they had left off after the break, denying France time and space and therefore the ability to belatedly establish a much-needed rhythm, to their opponents’ mounting frustration.

Oyarzabal fired over on the turn and with Yamal starting to torment Digne, the 2010 winners remained on top, prompting Deschamps to replace Barcola with Doue 12 minutes into the second half in a desperate search for inspiration.

But Spain extended its lead within seconds, Porro exchanging passes with Dani Olmo before lifting his shot over the helpless Maignan.

Marc Cucurella had to get a toe to Mbappe’s 67th-minute attempt to protect Simon, but substitute Ferran Torres headed wide at the other end 12 minutes from time as La Roja eased across the finishing line.

-with AAP