The rights group plans to file a complaint with the IOC against Infantino because of Trump’s support World Cup 2026


FIFA President Gianni Infantino could face an investigation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after the rights group announced it would file a complaint alleging he had breached neutrality rules by supporting US President Donald Trump.

Human rights group FairSquare has said it will file a complaint with the IOC about Infantino’s “repeated violations of neutrality rules”, deepening the controversy that has already seen it criticize FIFA’s own practices.

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Infantino has been a member of the IOC since 2020.

FairSquare filed a complaint with the FIFA Ethics Committee in December 2025, citing several issues. events while Infantino “expressed his public support for the actions and policies” of Trump.

“It also asks that the Ethics Committee investigate the actions of Mr. Infantino in the decision to establish the FIFA Peace Prize, the proposal of giving to President Trump and compliance with FIFA regulations,” FairSquare said.

Gianni Infantini presents Trump with a gold trophy
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, presents President Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize during the Fifa World Cup 2026 Final Draw at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025, in Washington, DC (Amber Searls/Imagn Images/Reuters)

Neutral position

FairSquare’s complaint alleges Infantino violated Article 15 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which refers to the duty of neutrality.

People with these rules must be politically neutral, and violations of the rules are punishable by a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs ($12,400) and a ban of up to two years from doing anything related to football.

The complaint also asks the Ethics Committee to investigate whether the decision to bring the annual Peace Prize and present it to Trump at the World Cup was taken by the FIFA Council or unilaterally by Infantino himself.

“If Mr. Infantino acted indiscriminately and without authorization, this should be considered an abuse of power,” FairSquare said.

The IOC ‘may look into’ the complaint

IOC president Kirsty Coventry said on Tuesday no complaint had been received for consideration by the ethics committee but added: “Obviously, if they do, they will look into it.”

Although FIFA’s Secretariat of the Investigative Chamber acknowledged that it had received a complaint in December, the world football governing body has not given “indication” that an investigation has begun, FairSquare said.

According to the Reuters news agency, FIFA told FairSquare that its secretary could open an investigation into “violations of the FIFA Code of Ethics” following instructions from the chairman of the Investigative Chamber.

But filing a complaint does not guarantee that social policies will be opened, when the complainants are not involved in the situation, without changes or information available due to confidentiality.

FairSquare launched a public campaign to reform FIFA called Reboot last week ahead of the World Cup.

Last week, FairSquare said 50 members of the European Parliament wrote to the FIFA Ethics Committee to support Infantino’s complaint.

The Norwegian Football Federation also supported the government’s complaint, asking the committee to investigate whether Infantino violated the governing body’s neutrality rules through the award of the Peace Prize and other measures.

Recently at the World Cup, FIFA to be suspended American midfielder Folarin Balogun has been suspended for the last 16 match against Belgium. The US lost 4-1after Trump himself encouraged Infantino to review the case.

However, Infantino refused to participate in the final decision.



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