A formal complaint has been lodged with FIFA’s ethics investigators after its president, Gianni Infantino, awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump — a move critics say violates the organisation’s strict political neutrality mandate.
London-based human rights nonprofit FairSquare submitted the complaint, arguing that Infantino’s open praise and political alignment with President Trump constitute a breach of FIFA’s statutory duty to remain impartial. The organisation also questioned the legitimacy and transparency behind the creation of the peace prize itself.
FIFA’s ethics code allows for sanctions — including a suspension of up to two years — for officials who violate neutrality rules, though the governing body’s ethics committee declined to comment on whether it would pursue the case.
Infantino has publicly backed Trump several times this year, even suggesting he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. His close association with US leadership comes as preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico. The tournament is expected to generate more than $10 billion in revenue for FIFA.
The complaint further notes that awarding a symbolic peace prize to a sitting political leader is “in itself a clear breach” of neutrality. FairSquare added that if Infantino created the prize unilaterally without statutory authority, it would amount to “an egregious abuse of power.”
Infantino and Trump were seen together at the recent World Cup draw in Washington, where the US president received the newly introduced award.
FairSquare has frequently challenged FIFA on issues including human rights in the 2034 World Cup host nation Saudi Arabia, governance practices, and the organisation’s handling of investigations involving Israeli settlement teams.
Discussion about this post