Infantino Under Scrutiny: European Lawmakers Demand Probe into Trump Peace Prize

Fifty members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have formally urged FIFA's Ethics Committee to launch an investigation into its president, Gianni Infantino, following his controversial decision to bestow a FIFA ‘Peace Prize’ upon United States President Donald Trump. This call to action, articulated in a letter dated June 29 and subsequently released by the British-based sports human rights organization FairSquare, supports a complaint FairSquare initially submitted in December. The lawmakers argue that Infantino's actions in awarding this prize may constitute a direct breach of FIFA's fundamental obligation to maintain political neutrality.

The detailed letter from the MEPs specifically implored FIFA's Ethics Committee to ascertain whether the establishment of the annual Peace Prize and its subsequent presentation to President Trump received official approval from either the FIFA Council or its designated bureau. Alternatively, the investigation is intended to determine if President Infantino proceeded with these significant decisions unilaterally. The signatories emphasized that such an inquiry would provide FIFA with a crucial opportunity to unequivocally demonstrate its unwavering commitment to the principles of “political neutrality, transparency and accountability” in its governance and operations.

The 50 signatories, who collectively represent 13 distinct European nations, aligned themselves fully with FairSquare’s initial concerns, particularly highlighting that FIFA’s own Code of Ethics explicitly mandates its leadership to uphold strict political impartiality. Notably, among FIFA's 211 member associations worldwide, Norway stands as the sole entity to have publicly advocated for an investigation into this matter, having formally communicated its request to FIFA in June.

FairSquare has characterized this intervention by the European lawmakers as “the most significant” political challenge directed at FIFA's governance structure since the European Parliament's influential call for the resignation of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2015. Blatter's departure, which occurred in June 2015 shortly after his re-election, was precipitated by a widespread and major corruption scandal that deeply impacted the organization's credibility.

The MEPs who have lent their support to this formal complaint predominantly hail from prominent political groups within the European Parliament, specifically the Social Democrats, Liberals, and Green parties. The entire initiative was spearheaded by a diverse group of prominent European legislators, including Barry Andrews from Ireland, Lara Wolters of the Netherlands, Niels Fuglsang representing Denmark, and Sebastian Everding from Germany.

Beyond the immediate controversy surrounding the 'Peace Prize', the lawmakers also extended their criticism to other aspects of FIFA's recent conduct. They specifically raised concerns regarding the governing body’s evolving relationship with Saudi Arabia, which is slated to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Furthermore, the MEPs expressed strong disapproval of FIFA's high-profile sponsorship agreement with Aramco, the Saudi state-owned energy giant, which they explicitly labeled as “the world’s biggest corporate polluter.”