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Report: "FIFA President Gianni Infantino heaps praise on Donald Trump as critics ridicule a newly established peace award as ‘vulgar’."
The announcement that FIFA's president has lauded former U.S. president Donald Trump in connection with a newly created "peace prize" has prompted immediate controversy. Critics say the award — and the way it was presented — undermines FIFA's long-standing claim of political neutrality and risks politicising the world football governing body.
Supporters of the move argue the prize aims to recognise high-profile efforts that they say advance dialogue or peace. Detractors, however, describe the award as inappropriate for an organisation that has historically positioned itself as impartial and focused on sport. Some commentators have used strong language — calling the initiative "vulgar" — and questioned whether FIFA's leadership is conflating sporting influence with political endorsement.
FIFA has not, at the time of this posting, issued a detailed explanation addressing those neutrality concerns. The reaction highlights the broader debate about the role international sporting bodies should play when public and political figures are involved.
Context & next steps: Editors will monitor official FIFA statements and subsequent reactions from stakeholders. This post will be updated when further information or official comment becomes available.