An international human rights group filed a complaint with the ethics committee of world soccer’s governing body to look into FIFA President Gianni Infantino, accusing him of a possible breach of political neutrality.
FairSquare, based in London, which says its company promotes ‘systemic change and stops human rights abuses,’ filed an eight-page complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee over the organization’s decision to give its inaugural Peace Prize to President Donald Trump, a decision that was met with swift condemnation.
“The award of a prize of this nature to a sitting political leader is in and of itself a clear breach of FIFA’s duty of neutrality,” FairSquare said in its complaint.
“If Mr. Infantino acted unilaterally and without any statutory authority, this should be considered an egregious abuse of power.’
FIFA’s ethics bylaws require neutrality in all political matters, and violations can carry a two-year ban from the sport.
Infantino and Trump were together at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, for the World Cup draw. The 2026 tournament, which is being held in North America, starts June 11.
FairSquare also said Infantino’s attendance at Trump’s inauguration in January ‘indicates support for President Trump’s political agenda.’
‘This complaint is about a lot more than Infantino’s support for President Donald Trump’s political agenda,’ said Nicholas McGeehan, FairSquare’s program director.
‘More broadly this is about how FIFA’s absurd governance structure has allowed Gianni Infantino to openly flout the organisation’s rules and act in ways that are both dangerous and directly contrary to the interests of the world’s most popular sport.’