A London-based human-rights group filed a formal ethics complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, accusing him of violating political neutrality rules by awarding the organization's first FIFA Peace Prize to President Donald Trump, raising questions about the ability of the world's top soccer body to remain impartial before the 2026 World Cup.
The complaint was submitted Monday by the nonprofit FairSquare, which argues that Infantino's decision to present the prize to Trump, along with his prior public statements supporting Trump's political agenda, constitutes a breach of FIFA's Code of Ethics.
The code requires officials to "remain politically neutral."
At Friday's World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., Infantino said of Trump: "You definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action for what you have obtained in your way, but you obtained it in an incredible way, and you can always count, Mr. President, on my support."
Earlier this year, Infantino publicly lobbied on social media for Trump to win the Nobel Peace Prize and, after Trump's 2025 inauguration, posted on Instagram: "Together we will make not only America great again but also the entire world."
FairSquare's complaint also challenges the transparency and process behind the creation of the FIFA Peace Prize.
According to the group, FIFA's statutes reserve decisions on the organization's "mission, strategic direction, policies, and values" to the 37-member FIFA Council, yet there is no record that the council or its vice presidents approved or discussed establishing the prize before Infantino's announcement.
If the ethics committee pursues the case, Infantino could face penalties under FIFA rules, including a possible ban from soccer-related activities for up to two years.
The issue comes amid heightened scrutiny of FIFA's governance before the next summer's World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
At the time of this writing, FIFA's Ethics Committee has not publicly confirmed receipt of the complaint or indicated whether it will launch a formal investigation.
Meanwhile, Trump allies lauded his reception of the prize after the eight wars he said he stopped.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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