KEY POINTS
- FairSquare files complaint with FIFA over Gianni Infantino’s awarding of peace prize to Trump.
- FairSquare claims the decision violates FIFA’s neutrality duty.
ISLAMABAD: FIFA is facing an ethics complaint after awarding US President Donald Trump its inaugural peace prize during the December 6 World Cup 2026 draw, raising questions about the organisation’s political neutrality.
The complaint, filed by the human rights group FairSquare, accuses FIFA of breaching its own principles by awarding such an honor to a sitting political leader.
The peace prize was presented by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the event held in Washington, DC, marking the official kick-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Infantino praised Trump during the ceremony, highlighting his role in global peace efforts, particularly in relation to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Infantino even presented Trump with a gold trophy, a medal, and a certificate, referring to them as his “peace prize.”
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FairSquare, which filed the complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee on December 9, condemned the award as a violation of FIFA’s neutrality, citing that awarding a peace prize to a sitting political leader runs counter to the global football community’s interests.
Nicholas McGeehan, the program director at FairSquare, argued that Infantino’s actions are indicative of FIFA’s flawed governance and lack of independence.
“The awarding of the peace prize to a sitting political leader is in and of itself a clear breach of FIFA’s duty of neutrality,” McGeehan stated.
“This goes beyond just Infantino’s support for Trump’s political agenda; it’s about how the FIFA structure has allowed such actions to happen unchecked.”
FairSquare’s complaint also references Infantino’s earlier public lobbying for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Despite this, the Nobel Prize ultimately went to Venezuelan political figure Maria Corina Machado.
The human rights group argues that these actions reflect a dangerous and unethical precedent set by the FIFA president.
The complaint has sparked criticism from various human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, which condemned Trump’s administration for its “appalling human rights record.”
The group stated that such a peace prize does not align with Trump’s actions, which they argue do not promote peace or unity globally.
