EXCLUSIVE: In a letter seen by the Mirror, more than 50 MEPs are supporting the official complaint against World Cup supremo Gianni Infantino, and are demanding an ethics probe
Dozens of members of the European Parliament have thrown their weight behind an ethics complaint against FIFA boss Gianni Infantino.
In a letter seen by the Mirror, more than 50 MEPs are supporting the official complaint against World Cup supremo Infantino. The complaint was first submitted by the London-based non governmental organisation FairSquare, over his award of the maiden FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump.
The Norwegian Football Federation is also backing the complaint, as a coalition against Infantino grows. MEP Barry Andrews, from the Republic of Ireland, told the Mirror: “The World Cup is arguably the biggest global event of any kind. It is supposed to unite the world. Yet when FIFA president Gianni Infantino favours one President over another, this brings FIFA and the whole tournament into disrepute.”
Infantino and his world federation received global backlash for their award of the FIFA Peace Price to Trump at the World Cup draw in December in Washington D.C. The football boss said: “You can always count on my support.”
Trump responded by calling the award “truly one of the great honours of my life”. The complaint alleged that Infantino repeatedly broke his duty of political neutrality which is enshrined in the FIFA Ethics Code, binding for football officials.
Andrews went on: “Our request in this letter is simple,” said Andrews. We are merely asking for the FIFA Ethics Committee to fully investigate the awarding of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to President Trump, and to ensure that due process is done.
“With the eyes of the world on FIFA and Infantino this summer, a proper investigation is the only way to ensure that the organisation fully upholds the core values of fairness, equality, and respect for human dignity.”
Andrews added: “If FIFA is truly committed to political neutrality, transparency and accountability, here is no better chance to prove it.”
FairSquare, is an non governmental organisation that advocates for good governance in sport.
Infantino has also been criticised for jetting 31,000 miles between World Cup matches in a fortnight – after pledging to cut climate-crippling emissions. He has made 27 flights between cities across tournament co-hosts the US, Mexico and Canada to watch 24 games.
In FIFA’s sustainability and human rights strategy for the World Cup he said: “Whether we speak about climate, human rights, diseases or disabilities, we are committed to play our part.”
But BBC investigators who tracked the flightpaths of a private jet linked to FIFA and Infantino said the climate impact of its travel in a fortnight was equivalent to that of 78 people over a year.
Infantino has attended two matches a day several times during the tournament’s group stage – often in cities hundreds of miles apart. On some days he has taken three separate flights.
