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Miguel Maduro, former president of FIFA’s governance committee, suggested that current FIFA president Gianni Infantino violated the governing body’s statutes by recently expressing support for President Donald Trump.
Maduro told The Athletic that he believes Infantino violated FIFA rules on political neutrality with recent comments made about Trump at the American Business Forum in Miami on Wednesday, when Infantino said, “I think we should all support what he’s doing because I think it looks pretty good.”
“The final part of his statement does more than recognize the legitimacy of President Trump. It supports his political program and his actions and maintains that others should support them as well. He is taking a position in what is an internal political debate in the United States,” Maduro said.
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President Donald Trump speaks alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino after presenting the 2025 Club World Cup trophy in the Oval Office of the White House on March 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“While you may recognize the legitimacy of President Trump, you should also recognize that, in a democracy, others can oppose his policies. Remaining politically neutral requires not taking a position in that political debate, much less arguing that everyone should support President Trump’s policies. Doing so seems a clear violation of the duty of political neutrality imposed on any FIFA official by Article 15 of its Code of Ethics.”
The official FIFA Code of Ethics states the following regarding political neutrality:
“In their relations with national and international government institutions, organizations, associations and groups, persons subject to this Code, in addition to observing the basic rules of the art, will remain politically neutral, in accordance with the principles and objectives of FIFA, the confederations, associations, leagues and clubs, and in general will act in a manner compatible with their function and integrity.
“Violation of this article will be punishable by a corresponding fine of at least 10,000 Swiss francs, as well as a ban from participating in any football-related activity for a maximum of two years.”
TRUMP THREATENS TO REMOVE WORLD CUP GAMES FROM BOSTON IF ‘UNSAFE CONDITIONS ARE’
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump in the stands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his wife, Leena Al Ashqar, during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 13, 2025. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters via Imagn Images)
However, that section is in article 14, and not in article 15 that Maduro mentioned.
Pak Gazette Digital has reached out to FIFA and the White House for a response. FIFA refused to give a response to The Athletic.
Trump, during his first term, developed a friendship with Infantino while securing the United States’ hosting rights, along with Canada and Mexico, for the 2026 World Cup.
Shortly after the United States won the tournament, Trump hosted Infantino at the White House. Infantino, also serving his first term as FIFA president, made an impression by handing Trump red and yellow cards, joking that they could be used in front of the press.
The relationship blossomed in 2020 as both men planned their future.
During a dinner in January at the world economic summit in Davos, near FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Infantino called the American president “my great friend.” Trump, always grateful for a compliment, responded by inviting Infantino to an event at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accords, which sought to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries.
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US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino talk in the Oval Office of the White House after signing an executive order for a working group related to the FIFA World Cup in Washington, DC, March 7, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP)
Trump signed an executive order establishing a White House task force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Trump will serve as chair of the task force, while Vice President JD Vance will serve as vice chair.
