Beirut: A House Democrat said Monday that he has opened an investigation into FIFA, alleging potential corruption and a possible quid pro quo involving the organization and the Trump administration.

According to Anadolu Agency, in a letter sent late Sunday to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, said the inquiry will examine a "sustained campaign" by FIFA to obtain favorable treatment from US President Donald Trump, including the dismissal of high-profile US corruption cases involving the global soccer governing body.

Raskin stated, "The most recent quid pro quo that FIFA and President Trump orchestrated is not a victimless crime," alleging that FIFA had used its relationship with the Trump administration to engage in "illegal price gouging and fraudulent sales tactics" for World Cup tickets.

The investigation is set to examine FIFA's governance under Infantino, including allegations that the organization weakened internal ethics safeguards while seeking to cultivate closer ties with Trump. The congressman also accused the Trump administration of abandoning anti-corruption enforcement involving FIFA after previous Justice Department prosecutions uncovered a long-running international bribery scheme tied to soccer media rights.

Raskin highlighted that earlier Justice Department investigations had exposed more than $200 million in bribes and kickbacks involving defendants from over 20 countries, alleging that despite securing convictions in some cases, the Trump administration later dropped prosecutions, allowing convicted defendants to go free.

The investigation will also scrutinize FIFA's World Cup ticketing practices, which Raskin claimed included price increases, dynamic pricing, and policies allowing seat downgrades after purchase.

Raskin is seeking documents and communications related to any gifts, payments, or other benefits allegedly provided by FIFA to Trump or his associates, as well as records concerning FIFA's contacts with US government officials and its ticketing practices. He has also requested visitor logs for FIFA's office in Trump Tower and asked Infantino to appear before the committee for a transcribed interview.