FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing a formal ethics complaint after the world football governing body awarded a peace prize to US President Donald Trump during the World Cup 2026 draw. Human rights group FairSquare filed the complaint, accusing FIFA of violating rules on political neutrality and acting against the interests of the global football community.

The complaint, submitted on Monday, centers on Infantino’s decision to honor Trump with FIFA’s inaugural peace prize during the December 6 event for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

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Allegations of Ethics Violations

Nicholas McGeehan, programme director at FairSquare, said the complaint is about more than Infantino’s support for Trump:

“This is about how FIFA’s governance structure has allowed Gianni Infantino to openly flout the organisation’s rules and act in ways that are both dangerous and contrary to the interests of the world’s most popular sport.”

The eight-page submission argues that awarding the prize to a sitting political leader constitutes a clear breach of FIFA’s duty of neutrality. It also raises concerns that Infantino acted unilaterally without statutory authority, potentially constituting an abuse of power.

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Past Advocacy and Controversy

FairSquare’s complaint also references Infantino’s earlier social media lobbying for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his involvement in the Israel-Gaza conflict, which ultimately went to Venezuelan politician Maria Corina Machado.

Human Rights Watch similarly criticized FIFA’s award, pointing to Trump’s human rights record and arguing it does not reflect exceptional efforts for peace or unity.

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FIFA Ethics Committee: Potential Consequences

The FIFA Ethics Committee, responsible for overseeing governance and compliance, can issue:

• Warnings or reprimands
• Fines
• Mandatory compliance training
• Bans on participation in football-related activities

It remains unclear whether the committee will formally investigate this complaint. FIFA has declined to comment on potential cases, and Infantino has not publicly responded.

Observers note that current FIFA ethics investigators and judges are widely seen as less independent than their predecessors a decade ago, during the era of Sepp Blatter, who was removed from office for corruption.

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The Peace Prize Ceremony

Trump attended the World Cup 2026 draw ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

During the event, Infantino presented Trump with:

• A gold trophy
• A gold medal
• A certificate

“This is your prize; this is your peace prize,” Infantino said, highlighting Trump’s efforts toward peace agreements. A video montage showcasing Trump’s claimed contributions to global peace was also shown during the ceremony.

The awarding of the peace prize has generated significant controversy, raising questions about FIFA’s political neutrality and the role of its governance in avoiding conflicts of interest between sports administration and politics.