• FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarded Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
• FairSquare has filed a complaint alleging breaches of FIFA's political neutrality rules.
• The complaint cites Infantino's comments and actions in support of Trump as unethical.
• Violations of FIFA's Code of Ethics could lead to disciplinary action against Infantino.
• The controversy surrounds the legitimacy of FIFA’s governance structure and its independence.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under scrutiny after awarding US President Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw. Human rights group FairSquare has filed a complaint with FIFA's ethics committee, alleging that Infantino’s actions violate the organization's rules regarding political neutrality. The complaint, dated December 8, asserts that awarding such a prize to a sitting political leader contradicts FIFA's duty of neutrality, which Infantino has breached multiple times, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

FairSquare’s program director, Nicholas McGeehan, emphasized that this complaint extends beyond Infantino's favorable comments about Trump, claiming it reflects deeper issues surrounding FIFA's governance. The complaint identifies "four clear breaches" of Article 15 of FIFA's Code of Ethics, which requires officials to remain politically neutral in their dealings. It highlights incidents where Infantino expressed support for Trump's political agenda, including lobbying for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, as noted by Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

The presentation ceremony featured Trump in the spotlight, where Infantino commended him, stating, "This is what we want from a leader." The implications of this gesture have raised significant questions about FIFA's adherence to its own ethical guidelines, with potential sanctions for Infantino ranging from warnings to suspensions, as highlighted by BBC and Le Monde.

Concerns have also been raised about the independence of FIFA's ethics committee, especially following FIFA's previous controversies and governance challenges. Critics argue that Infantino's actions reflect a significant deviation from the organization's required standards of neutrality, echoing the sentiments of FairSquare and other human rights advocates, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.