European Parliament members back complaint over FIFA Peace Prize awarded to Donald Trump
European Parliament members have backed a complaint alleging Gianni Infantino breached FIFA rules by awarding the FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump, with 50 MEPs signing a letter by June 29, 2026.
Strong showing of support from MEPs
By Monday afternoon, June 29, 2026, 50 members of the European Parliament had signed a letter supporting a formal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The letter was initiated by Barry Andrews (Renew, Ireland), Lara Wolters (S&D, Netherlands) and Niels Fuglsang (S&D, Denmark) and urges FIFA’s ethics bodies to investigate the award.
The cross-party backing underscores growing concern in Brussels about Infantino’s conduct and the governance of FIFA.
Parliamentarians say their action builds on past interventions over FIFA’s decision-making and commercial ties.
Ethics complaint cites breach of political neutrality
The complaint lodged with FIFA’s Ethics Committee on December 8, 2025, by the NGO Fair Square accuses Infantino of violating the organization’s duty of political neutrality.
Fair Square filed the grievance after Infantino presented the newly created FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump during the World Cup draw in Washington on December 5, 2025.
The complaint argues the award represented an unmistakable political gesture and contravened FIFA’s own principles, a point now echoed by the European Parliament signatories.
Supporters of the complaint also note public comments by Trump in which he touted himself as deserving of major international honors, which critics say amplified the political dimension of the award.
Norwegian FA formally joins the challenge
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), led by president Lise Klaveness, has formally attached itself to the ethics complaint, increasing institutional pressure on FIFA.
Klaveness had publicly called in April 2026 for the immediate abolition of the FIFA Peace Prize and confirmed in early June 2026 that the NFF would join Fair Square’s action and press for further measures after the World Cup.
The involvement of a national federation marks a shift from civil society protest to organized football governance scrutiny.
NFF officials said they would pursue the case through available channels and work with partners to press for accountability.
Public campaign amplifies pressure on Infantino
Fair Square launched a campaign called “Reboot FIFA” to galvanize public support and draw attention to governance concerns within the sport’s governing body.
By June 29, 2026, the online petition tied to the campaign had collected more than 15,700 signatures, the NGO reported, signaling sizeable grassroots backing for the complaint.
Campaign organizers said the petition is intended to demonstrate both popular unease and a demand for reform within FIFA’s leadership.
Activists characterize the award to Trump and other recent decisions as symptomatic of deeper institutional problems requiring independent scrutiny.
MEPs reference earlier Saudi 2034 concerns and sponsorship ties
In their letter, the MEPs pointed to earlier correspondence over FIFA’s awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia in December 2024, when 30 parliamentarians expressed concerns.
The current complaint notes FIFA’s subsequent sponsorship agreement with state energy company Aramco, which the letter criticizes for strengthening connections to a major fossil-fuel producer.
Parliamentarians told FIFA that the combination of questionable venue selections, commercial deals and political gestures like the Peace Prize raises systemic governance questions.
The letter describes the FIFA Peace Prize award to Trump as “perhaps the most worrying development” amid an ongoing World Cup and mounting scrutiny.
The complaint and supporting letter do not prescribe a specific sanction, but they call on FIFA’s Ethics Committee to investigate whether Infantino’s actions breached the association’s statutes and ethical codes.
EU lawmakers and civil society groups say they will monitor the ethics process and pursue further avenues if the investigation does not produce a satisfactory response.
The Ethics Committee has previously handled high-profile matters within FIFA, but the pace and outcome of any inquiry are uncertain, especially during an active tournament.
Observers say the case could test FIFA’s willingness to apply its rules to the highest office in the organization and to address public concerns about impartiality and governance.
The combined pressure from MEPs, the Norwegian FA and Fair Square’s public campaign increases the spotlight on Infantino and the FIFA Peace Prize, raising questions about the prize’s creation and future.
Stakeholders now await a formal response from FIFA’s Ethics Committee and any announced steps by FIFA leadership to address the allegations and reputational damage.
