FIFA’s Own Lawyers Knew Lionel Mpasi Was Ineligible In March, And Then He Still Played England.

Gianni Infantino is staring down *another* eligibility scandal, and this one’s a doozy. Reports from The New York Times and Le Monde are dropping bombs, claiming FIFA’s *own lawyers* knew way back in March that DR Congo’s goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, was allegedly ineligible to play. What makes it worse? These lawyers reportedly drew up a list of sanctions including banning Mpasi and disqualifying DR Congo from their intercontinental play-off against Jamaica later that same month. But nothing happened. Zero action taken, say the reports. Mpasi then went on to represent DR Congo at the World Cup finals in North America, even playing in their 2-1 defeat by England in the last 32. You read that right: FIFA’s legal team reportedly knew, and a player they might have banned still suited up for a World Cup game.

The Mpasi Mess and a Familiar Pattern

This isn’t just about Mpasi, either. This new controversy follows on the heels of the Folarin Balogun case, which also raised eyebrows. Balogun, a United States striker, got sent off and hit with a one-match ban. But here’s the kicker: FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended that ban, letting him play in the last-16 match against Belgium. US President Donald Trump later admitted he personally called Infantino to review Balogun’s sanction, which sparked major concerns about political interference messing with FIFA’s internal decisions. FIFA, for their part, has denied any intervention by Infantino in that situation, insisting their disciplinary committee is totally independent. They also stated that after an “inadmissible protest” from the Nigeria Football Federation, “no proper appeal was lodged,” making the initial decision final and binding.

The Mounting Pressure on Infantino and FIFA

This string of reports is putting serious heat on Infantino and FIFA’s governance. A FIFA spokesperson, responding to the Mpasi allegations, firmly stated, “Fifa’s judicial bodies are autonomous and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Fifa strongly rejects any suggestion that the Fifa President would interfere with these processes.”

But other organizations are clearly watching. Concacaf, representing Jamaica who would have faced DR Congo in that play-off, said they “take player eligibility matters very seriously” and expect regulations to be “applied consistently and fairly.” They emphasized that “any concerns regarding player eligibility… should be thoroughly reviewed and addressed.” The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has also been approached for comment. And let’s not forget, the Norwegian federation has already filed complaints with FIFA’s ethics committee and its governance, audit and compliance committee. Those complaints cover the Balogun case, a private investor plan for tournaments, and the controversial awarding of the Fifa Peace Prize to President Trump last year.

It’s clear that the spotlight on FIFA’s decisions, and the transparency of those decisions, is only getting brighter. This isn’t just about a single player or match; it’s about the integrity of the game and the trust in the sport’s biggest governing body. How will FIFA address these reports, and what will the fallout be? The soccer world is waiting for answers.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.