FIFA President Gianni Infantino was accused of violating the organization’s strict rules on political neutrality after presenting U.S. President Donald Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.

The human rights group FairSquare has formally requested FIFA’s Ethics Committee investigate whether Infantino’s actions and public endorsements of Trump constitute a breach of Article 15 of the FIFA Code of Ethics. According to the code, FIFA must remain impartial in political matters. Newsweek has contacted FIFA for comment via email.

Why It Matters

FIFA’s credibility hinges on its commitment to political neutrality, a principle designed to keep global soccer free from partisan influence. If its president is found to have breached this rule by honoring a sitting U.S. president, it could undermine trust in the organization’s independence and raise questions about whether FIFA’s leadership is susceptible to political favoritism. Such a precedent risks eroding confidence among member associations, players and fans, and it could spark broader scrutiny of governance within one of the world’s most influential sporting bodies.

What To Know

On December 5, at the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize. The honor was accompanied by a gold trophy, medal and certificate recognizing Trump’s peace efforts, such as brokering a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia—where fighting broke out again days later.

The ceremony took place at the Kennedy Center, where Infantino praised the U.S. president, saying, “This is what we want from a leader.”

He continued: “You definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action, for what you have obtained in your way. But you obtained it in an incredible way. And you can always count, Mr. President, on my support.”

“This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said, adding: “Most important, I just want to thank everybody. The world is a safer place now.”