At the 2026 World Cup group draw last week Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, acted like a fanboy, ostensibly in thrall to the United States President Donald Trump. At the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C., Infantino handed over the FIFA Peace Prize, a first of its kind, to Trump and said: “This is your prize, this is your peace prize.” Now there's a report that an official complaint has been submitted to the game's governing body's Ethics Committee, alleging “repeated breaches” of FIFA's duty of political neutrality by Infantino.
Who has filed the complaint?
According to a report in The Athletic, the complaint has been made by FairSquare, a non-profit organisation and advocacy group which focuses mainly on global labour migration rights, political repression and sport. It has submitted an eight-page letter to the Ethics Committee, which according to FIFA, is one of its judicial bodies.
What are the alleged breaches?
According to the report, the FairSquare complaint has detailed four alleged breaches by Infantino of FIFA’s duty of neutrality that are contrary to the Article 15 of FIFA's Code of Ethics. All the complaints are in relation to Infantino’s public championing of President Trump.
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What has been written in the letter?
As per the complaint, Infantino has “committed four clear breaches” of FIFA's duty to neutrality. The statutes of the world football’s governing body says that “FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion”. FIFA's Code of Ethics also “requires that all persons bound by the code remain politically neutral … in dealings with government institutions”. Infantino publicly lobbying for Trump to be given the Nobel Peace Prize earlier in 2025, too, was construed as a breach as per FairSquare.
The letter also mentioned: “This constitutes a clear personal endorsement of President Trump’s foreign policy in numerous countries and ongoing armed conflicts. Statements of this nature breach the duty of neutrality outlined in article 15 of the FIFA Code of Ethics.”
Has FIFA responded to this?
As per The Athletic: “FIFA did not respond to a request for comment.”
Can there be a disciplinary action?
Disciplinary action from the FIFA's Ethics Committee can include a warning, a reprimand and even a pecuniary penalty.
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