A group of European Parliament members have expressed support for an ethics complaint filed against FIFA President Gianni Infantino. More than 50 MEPs are backing the complaint initiated by the London-based organization FairSquare. The complaint challenges Infantino’s decision to present the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump.
The Norwegian Football Federation has also joined the coalition against Infantino, emphasizing the importance of FIFA’s role in promoting unity and fairness on a global scale. The controversy arose when Infantino awarded Trump during the World Cup draw in Washington D.C., leading to widespread criticism.
MEP Barry Andrews highlighted the significance of maintaining political neutrality within FIFA and called for a thorough investigation into the Peace Prize award to Trump. He stressed the importance of upholding core values such as fairness, equality, and respect for human dignity within the organization.
Criticism also emerged regarding Infantino’s extensive travel during the World Cup matches, contradicting his pledge to reduce carbon emissions. Despite FIFA’s sustainability commitments, investigations revealed the substantial environmental impact of Infantino’s frequent flights between tournament cities.
Infantino’s attendance at multiple matches per day, sometimes requiring multiple flights, has raised concerns about his environmental accountability. The ongoing scrutiny underscores the need for FIFA to uphold its principles of transparency and neutrality, especially in high-profile events like the World Cup.