A significant number of European Parliament members have thrown their support behind an ethics complaint filed against FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Over 50 MEPs are backing the complaint initiated by the London-based non-governmental organization FairSquare regarding Infantino’s decision to award the first FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump.
The Norwegian Football Federation has also joined the coalition against Infantino, expressing concerns about the impartiality of the FIFA president’s actions. MEP Barry Andrews emphasized the importance of FIFA maintaining neutrality and unity in the global community, highlighting the potential reputational damage caused by favoritism shown by Infantino.
Following the controversial award ceremony at the World Cup draw in Washington D.C., where Trump received the FIFA Peace Prize, Infantino faced widespread criticism for breaching the political neutrality stipulated in the FIFA Ethics Code. The complaint calls for a thorough investigation by the FIFA Ethics Committee to ensure transparency and adherence to ethical standards.
As scrutiny intensifies, Andrews stressed the necessity of a comprehensive inquiry to uphold the core values of fairness, equality, and respect for human dignity within FIFA and its leadership. FairSquare, an NGO advocating for good governance in sports, has been actively involved in raising concerns about Infantino’s conduct.
In addition to the ethics complaint, Infantino has faced backlash for his extensive air travel between World Cup matches, contradicting his commitment to reducing climate impact. Despite FIFA’s sustainability goals, BBC investigations revealed the significant carbon footprint generated by Infantino’s jet travel during the tournament, raising questions about his environmental responsibilities.
Infantino’s frequent attendance at multiple matches in different locations, often requiring multiple flights in a day, has drawn further criticism for the environmental repercussions of his travel practices. This controversy has cast a shadow over FIFA’s efforts to promote sustainability and human rights in hosting major sporting events.
