MEPs Call for an Investigation into the FIFA President Over a Bonus Paid to Trump
Fifty members of the European Parliament have called on the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to launch an investigation into its president, Gianni Infantino, over a possible violation of the organization’s principles of political neutrality.
In their letter, the members of the European Parliament ask that the decision to establish the annual FIFA Peace Prize and its subsequent awarding to U.S. President Donald Trump be reviewed.
The author of the letter, Barry Andrews, a Member of the European Parliament from the “Renew” group, emphasized:
“The World Cup should unite the world. When FIFA President Infantino favors one president over another, it discredits FIFA and the entire tournament.”
The letter emphasizes that during the World Cup, the international community’s attention is focused on FIFA’s activities, so the organization must demonstrate its commitment to its own principles.
“This complaint gives FIFA an opportunity to prove its commitment to the principles of political neutrality, transparency, and accountability,” the authors of the letter note.
On December 5, 2025, Gianni Infantino presented Donald Trump with the newly established FIFA Peace Prize. Just three days after the ceremony, the organization FairSquare filed an official complaint with the federation’s ethics committee.
Critics point out that Infantino did not consult the FIFA Council regarding the creation of the award, and they view the award itself as an attempt to establish particularly favorable relations with the U.S. president.
Members of the European Parliament argue that the FIFA president’s public statements and actions in support of Trump may violate the organization’s charter, which requires political neutrality.
The document notes that “FIFA remains neutral on matters of politics and religion,” and any actions by the leadership that may indicate political sympathies call into question adherence to this principle.
FIFA has confirmed that it received the complaint back in December 2025, but has yet to respond to the European Parliament members’ inquiry or announce the start of a formal investigation into the matter.
This is stated in a letter from MEPs supporting the complaint filed by the human rights organization FairSquare with FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
U.S. President Donald Trump may become one of the key figures at the 2026 World Cup final, and FIFA is reportedly prepared to deviate from its long-standing ceremonial protocol. This could allow for an exceptional format for the politician’s participation in the match’s official events.
