More than 50 MEPs demand FIFA ethics probe into Infantino over Trump Peace Prize

More than 50 Members of the European Parliament have formally backed an ethics complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, demanding an investigation into his decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump.

In a letter seen by the Mirror, the MEPs are supporting a complaint first submitted by London-based NGO FairSquare, which alleged that Infantino repeatedly violated the duty of political neutrality enshrined in the FIFA Ethics Code. The Norwegian Football Federation has also backed the complaint, widening a growing coalition against the FIFA chief.

The prize was presented to Trump at the World Cup draw in Washington D.C. in December, where Infantino told the US president: “You can always count on my support.” Trump described the honour as “truly one of the great honours of my life.”

MEP Barry Andrews of Ireland told the Mirror: “The World Cup is arguably the biggest global event of any kind. It is supposed to unite the world. Yet when FIFA president Gianni Infantino favours one President over another, this brings FIFA and the whole tournament into disrepute.”

Andrews said the request in the letter was straightforward: “We are merely asking for the FIFA Ethics Committee to fully investigate the awarding of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to President Trump, and to ensure that due process is done. With the eyes of the world on FIFA and Infantino this summer, a proper investigation is the only way to ensure that the organisation fully upholds the core values of fairness, equality, and respect for human dignity.”

The complaint against Infantino has been compounded by separate scrutiny of his travel record during the tournament. BBC investigators who tracked the flightpaths of a private jet linked to FIFA and Infantino reported that the climate impact of its travel over a fortnight was equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of 78 people. Infantino has made 27 flights between cities across tournament co-hosts the United States, Mexico, and Canada to attend 24 games — covering an estimated 31,000 miles in a fortnight — despite having pledged in FIFA’s own sustainability strategy for the World Cup to “play our part” on climate.

FairSquare, the NGO that filed the original complaint, advocates for good governance in sport. The FIFA Ethics Committee has not yet publicly responded to the complaint.