Foul started even before the whistle
text_fields
The FIFA World Cup is just months away. But the controversies and allegations have already begun. The path to this was paved by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is bound to hold the world soccer event in a clean and fair manner. At the draw ceremony to determine the World Cup groups on December 5, Infantino presented the ‘FIFA Peace Prize’ to US President Donald Trump. What made news wasnot only that it is the first such award in the name of FIFA, but also that it was given to Trump. Not long before this award, a ‘peace agreement’ had been signed between Congo and Rwanda at the instance of Trump.Trump has been claiming that many things, including the Israeli-Palestinian 'ceasefire' and the end of the India-Pakistan conflict, were the result of his efforts. But the world has seen that Trump has not been able to bring about lasting peace in any of them and that Trump’s claims are hollow in many ways. Yet, it is completely inappropriate and unethical to give him the Peace Prize in the name of FIFA. What is even more serious is that the FIFA President violated FIFA’s own rules. The FIFA Peace Prize is a decision that Infantino made on his own, without the knowledge of anyone else in FIFA. It has not even been examined whether such initiatives are part of FIFA's goals or agenda. The decision to award the award, like the decision to select Trump as the recipient, was made in a manner that lacked transparency. No nominations were invited to select the winners. There were no independent judges. Even FIFA's top brass were reportedly surprised by the announcement of the award. The unfairness of the selection of the person for the award, the opaque methods used, and the fact that it exceeded FIFA's stated goals have all made it controversial.
While Human Rights Watch questioned the morality of awarding the Peace Prize to Trump, another human rights organization, Fair Square, has already filed a formal complaint with FIFA's ethics committee. The question is: what authority does Infantino have to award a prize to someone like Trump on behalf of more than 5 billion football fans? Infantino, who had previously suggested that Trump should be awarded the Nobel Prize, immediately after learning that the prize would not go to Trump, decided on a new and unprecedented award in FIFA's name, chose Trump as the recipient, announced it himself, and presented it directly to Trump at an official FIFA ceremony. FIFA's policy of political neutrality is being violated here. FIFA is a body that has fined and suspended players for even a hint of protest or verbal disagreement with racism and discrimination. Its president has given undeserved honor to a reckless leader who openly embraces racism and implements inhumane policies in the name of anti-immigration. The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Trump is a man who has clashed with the other two host countries over trade and immigration issues. He has demanded that some US cities chosen by FIFA to host the matches be changed. Although he says it is a security issue, the reality is that Trump is demanding a change because they are in states ruled by Democrats. While countries that host football matches usually welcome football fans from other countries, Trump's US immigration law is likely to block those it does not like. While FIFA is eyeing profits from high ticket prices and the sale of broadcasting rights, Trump sees the football festival as an opportunity to shine his image. Foul play has already started outside the field before the games even started.
