FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been accused of a “clear violation” of the governing body’s statutes on neutrality after appearing to endorse United States president Donald Trump’s political agenda.
Speaking at the American Business Forum in Miami on Wednesday, an event that was also attended by Trump, Infantino lavished praise on the U.S. president and said “we should all support what he’s doing because I think it’s looking good”.
Miguel Maduro, a former chairman of FIFA’s governance committee between 2016 and 2017, has said the FIFA president’s comments are a clear breach of the rules regarding political neutrality.
“We have a great relationship,” Infantino said of Trump at the event he attended in his role as FIFA president. “I’m really lucky. I have a great relationship with President Trump, where I consider him a really close friend. Of course he’s being very helpful in everything we are doing for the World Cup.
“He does things. He does what he says. He says what he thinks. He actually says what many people think as well, but maybe don’t dare to say and that’s why he’s so successful. I have to say it and I’m a bit surprised sometimes when we read some negative comments.
“I am not American, but as far as I understand, President Trump was elected in the United States of America and was quite clearly elected. When you are in such a great democracy as the United States of America, you should first of all respect the results of the election, right?
“In the end he was elected based on the programme, based on what he said.
“He is just implementing what he said he would do,” the FIFA president continued. “So I think we should all support what he’s doing because I think it’s looking pretty good.”
It is the final sentence that has led to the accusation that Infantino has breached a FIFA statute, which states: “FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion. Exceptions may be made with regard to matters affected by FIFA’s statutory objectives.”
Maduro, an academic who has also served as a minister in the Portuguese government, told The Athletic: “A debate could take place on the extent to which such obligation should extend to political positions taken when FIFA officials act in a private capacity.
“However, that is clearly not the case of the statement in question. It was made in his capacity as president of FIFA in an event he clearly participated in as FIFA president.
“I think a president of FIFA can state that electoral results should be respected. But Infantino went beyond that.
“The final part of his statement does more than recognising the legitimacy of President Trump, it endorses his political programme and actions and argues others should support them too. He is taking a position in what is an internal political debate in the U.S.
“While he can recognise the legitimacy of President Trump, he should also recognise that in a democracy, others can oppose his policies. To remain politically neutral requires not to take a position on that political debate, much less to argue that all should support President Trump’s policies.
“To do so appears a clear violation of the duty of political neutrality imposed on any FIFA official by Article 15 of its Code of Ethics.”
When asked to respond to the accusation that Infantino has breached FIFA’s statute on political neutrality, the governing body declined to comment.
A violation of FIFA’s statutes could lead to an investigation from the governing body’s Ethics Committee, a judicial and independent arm of FIFA, whose job it is to investigate and judge the conduct of anyone who is bound by the code of ethics.
Sanctioning powers for breaches of any of FIFA’s rules and regulations can include a warning, reprimand, fine, compliance training, and a ban on taking part in any football-related activity.
While there’s no indication yet of an investigation into what was said, Infantino’s comments came on the same day FIFA announced the creation of its ‘FIFA Peace Prize’, which he said — via a statement — is designed to “recognise the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace”.
At the event in Miami, Infantino hinted this award would be given to Trump at the World Cup draw in Washington on December 5.
