At a time when the football world should be talking about groups, derbies and the excitement of the upcoming 2026 World Cup, FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino managed to hijack the spotlight with one of the most shameful moves in the history of the sport.
At a ceremony in Washington, US President Donald Trump was awarded the newly-minted "FIFA Peace Prize." Yes, you read that right. The man whose politics are divisive has been recognized for "uniting the world" by an organization that is statutorily supposed to be politically neutral.
Circus directed by Infantino
Gianni Infantino, the man who supposedly saved football from Blatter's corruption, is now turning it into a tool to satisfy political egos.
"This is a medal you can carry wherever you go ," Infantino told Trump, as he presented him with a gold trophy with hands holding a globe.
For many, this is a pure act of servility. Trump, who openly lobbied for the Nobel Peace Prize, has now received this "consolation" award from his close friend Gianni, in a move that many interpret as a desperate attempt by FIFA to secure support for hosting the tournament in the United States.
"I don't need awards, I just want to save lives"
In his own style, Trump accepted the award with a dose of false modesty: "I don't need awards. I just want to save lives... This is one of the greatest honors of my life."
Why is this dangerous?
This is not just bad PR. This is a precedent. FIFA, which has been punishing players and federations for the smallest political messages for years (think of the fines for flags, messages on T-shirts), is now giving an award to an active politician, in the middle of a term, in the midst of global conflicts.
- Does this mean that football is becoming an official platform for political propaganda?
- What's next? A Ballon d'Or for Putin? A Fair Play Award for Kim Jong Un?
We are aware that politics and sports have always been intertwined, but this is a brutal rape of common sense. Instead of celebrating the game, power is celebrated. Instead of talking about Messi and Mbappe, we talk about Trump and Infantino.
Modern football may be dying, but the love of the real game is what keeps us going. What FIFA is doing is not football. This is cheap theater with expensive tickets.
