Overview
- Rights group FairSquare filed a formal complaint to FIFA’s Ethics Commission after Gianni Infantino publicly gave President Donald Trump a newly created FIFA peace prize at the World Cup draw in Washington.
- FairSquare cites four alleged breaches of neutrality: praise of Trump’s policies in FIFA’s event video, use of Trump’s campaign language in January, an October call for a Nobel Peace Prize, and November remarks urging support for Trump’s agenda.
- The commission’s investigatory chamber, chaired by Martin Ngoga, must first decide whether to open proceedings, with potential sanctions under Article 15 ranging from a minimum CHF 10,000 fine to a suspension of up to two years.
- The complaint also asks for scrutiny of how the peace prize was introduced, noting reports that FIFA Council members were not involved and were surprised by the new honor.
- FIFA defended Infantino’s conduct as necessary cooperation with host governments for 2026, even as media, Human Rights Watch, and figures such as DFB executive Andreas Rettig criticized the decision and its transparency.