Watchdog Criticizes FIFA President for Supporting Trump’s Peace Prize Award
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has drawn criticism for breaching the organization’s political neutrality rules. This comes after he awarded a new honor, the FIFA Peace Prize, to U.S. President Donald Trump without proper approval.
Controversial Awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize
The inaugural FIFA Peace Prize was presented to Trump on December 5, 2025. Infantino announced this award last month, but he did not seek prior approval from the FIFA Council, the organization’s governing board.
FairSquare’s Complaint
FairSquare, a nonprofit focused on ensuring sporting institutions do not contribute to harm, has filed an official complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee. They claim Infantino has repeatedly violated FIFA’s neutrality law by endorsing Trump.
- Infantino’s announcement of the peace prize has raised concerns.
- The complaint cites multiple instances where Infantino has supported Trump.
- One example includes an Instagram post on Inauguration Day, where Infantino commented on making America and the world great again.
Concerns Over Authority and Neutrality
FairSquare’s letter argues that Infantino lacks the authority to independently dictate FIFA’s mission and policies. They assert that the peace prize award is contrary to the interests of football.
Response from FIFA
As of now, Infantino has not responded to requests for comments regarding the complaints. The controversy continues to raise questions about FIFA’s adherence to its own principles.
FairSquare has urged the Ethics Committee to conduct a thorough investigation into how Trump received the FIFA Peace Prize.
