FIFA President Gianni Infantino is currently facing criticism and formal complaints due to his public support for former U.S. President Donald Trump. The complaints arose from the FIFA Peace Prize award that was given to Trump, which the complainants believe contravenes FIFA’s obligation to maintain political neutrality. The organization FairSquare, a London-based human rights nonprofit, has lodged requests for investigations into Infantino’s alleged breaches of FIFA’s statutory duty to be politically neutral.

Allegations Against Infantino

According to FairSquare, Infantino’s public endorsements of Trump and his policies, which included a suggestion that Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, constitute a violation of FIFA’s duty of neutrality. The London-based nonprofit has submitted a formal complaint to FIFA’s ethics investigators.

FIFA’s ethics code stipulates a ban from soccer of up to two years for violating the duty of neutrality. However, it remains uncertain whether the case will be pursued. The FIFA-appointed ethics investigators and judges are considered by some to be less independent than their predecessors who were in office a decade ago when then-president Sepp Blatter was removed from office.

Infantino’s Alignment with the U.S. Government

In addition to his public support for Trump, Infantino has also closely aligned soccer with the U.S. government ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the men’s team is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico. This tournament is expected to earn more than US$10 billion for FIFA. Infantino joined the political leaders of all three co-hosts on stage to initiate the World Cup tournament draw in Washington, D.C., after Trump was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.

Controversy Over FIFA Peace Prize

The awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to a sitting political leader has been criticized by FairSquare as a clear breach of FIFA’s duty of neutrality. The nature of the prize and how it was created remains unclear, as FIFA has not provided specific details. However, individuals familiar with the process have stated in private conversations that they learned about the award through media reports.

“If Mr. Infantino acted unilaterally and without any statutory authority this should be considered an egregious abuse of power,” stated FairSquare in their eight-page complaint.

Previous Challenges by FairSquare

This is not the first time FairSquare has challenged FIFA. The human rights organization has previously scrutinized the global soccer body over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record in relation to the 2034 World Cup, the influence of the kingdom’s oil company Aramco (a top-tier World Cup sponsor), FIFA governance standards, and the slow progress of FIFA’s investigations into possible breaches relating to teams from Israeli settlements playing in the national soccer league.

Ethan Radcliffe

Ethan Radcliffe is a senior reporter and digital editor at The Toronto Insider, specializing in Canadian federal policy, GTA urban development, and national economic trends. With over a decade of experience in North American journalism, Ethan focuses on translating complex legislative and economic developments into clear, accessible reporting for Canadian readers. Ethan’s work emphasizes policy analysis, government accountability, and data-driven reporting, with a strong focus on how federal and provincial decisions impact communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. He has covered infrastructure planning, housing policy, fiscal strategy, and regulatory changes affecting Canadian households and businesses. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Ethan brings expertise in investigative reporting, long-form analysis, editorial standards, and digital publishing best practices. His reporting is guided by verifiable sources, public records, and transparent sourcing. In addition to reporting, Ethan has experience in newsroom editing, fact-checking workflows, SEO-informed journalism, and audience analytics, ensuring stories meet both editorial integrity standards and modern digital discoverability requirements. Ethan is committed to objective, fact-driven journalism and adheres to established ethical guidelines, prioritizing accuracy, clarity, and public trust in all reporting.

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