FIFA President Faces Ethics Complaint After Awarding ‘Peace Prize’ to Donald Trump
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s decision to award Donald Trump the first-ever ‘FIFA Peace Prize’ has triggered an ethics complaint and widespread condemnation.
The award, presented during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on December 6, has been criticized for its lack of clear criteria and alleged absence of approval from the FIFA Council. Critics view it as a political move to curry favor with the former U.S. President.
Human rights organization FairSquare has filed a formal complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee, citing a violation of impartiality and ethical standards. The group argues that the award undermines the integrity of global football.
Nicholas McGeehan, programs director at FairSquare, stated that the complaint goes beyond Infantino’s support for Trump’s political agenda, highlighting the flawed governance structure within FIFA that allows the president to disregard regulations.
The eight-page complaint alleges that awarding the ‘Peace Prize’ to a political figure constitutes a blatant violation of FIFA’s neutrality mandate. FairSquare is urging the independent committee to investigate Infantino’s actions.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also condemned the award, emphasizing that the Trump administration’s human rights record does not align with promoting peace and unity. HRW has reportedly sent a letter to FIFA requesting information about the nomination process and selection criteria, but has yet to receive a response.
Minky Worden, who oversees sports for Human Rights Watch, issued a statement criticizing the award in light of reported violent detentions of migrants and the deployment of the National Guard in American cities.
Potential disciplinary actions against Infantino could range from warnings and reprimands to financial penalties and bans from football-related activities. However, it remains uncertain whether the ethics committee will pursue the complaint.
FairSquare’s complaint emphasizes that Infantino has breached his duty of neutrality under Article 15 of FIFA’s Code of Ethics.
The organization also raised concerns about Infantino’s alleged lobbying on social media earlier this year for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his handling of conflicts in Gaza. This issue should also be investigated.
Article 15 of the FCE law mandates political impartiality for football officials in their dealings with governments, with penalties including bans of up to two years for violators. FairSquare claims Infantino violated this law on four counts.
The executive director or chairman of the ethics committee must acknowledge receipt of the complaint within three days. Unless the complaint is rejected, the ethics committee will send a copy to the defendant within 15 days. The defendant then has 30 days to provide a written response. Failure to respond will result in the complaint being considered automatically valid, and it will be reported to the CAPS board along with any observations deemed appropriate by the ethics committee.
