Ex-FIFA exec accuses President Gianni Infantino of violating political neutrality rule by praising Trump

Miguel Maduro, the erstwhile president of FIFA’s governance committee, suggested existent FIFA President Gianni Infantino violated the governing body's bylaws by precocious expressing enactment for President Donald Trump.

Maduro told The Athletic helium believes Infantino violated FIFA's rules regarding governmental neutrality with caller comments made astir Trump astatine the American Business Forum successful Miami Wednesday, erstwhile Infantino said, "I deliberation we should each enactment what he’s doing due to the fact that I deliberation it’s looking beauteous good."

"The last portion of his connection does much than admit the legitimacy of President Trump. It endorses his governmental programme and actions and argues others should enactment them too. He is taking a presumption successful what is an interior governmental statement successful the U.S," Maduro said.

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President Donald Trump speaks alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino aft unveiling the 2025 Club World Cup trophy successful the Oval Office astatine the White House March 7, 2025, successful Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"While helium tin admit the legitimacy of President Trump, helium should besides admit that, successful a democracy, others tin reason his policies. To stay politically neutral requires not to instrumentality a presumption connected that governmental debate, overmuch little to reason that each should enactment President Trump’s policies. To bash truthful appears a wide usurpation of the work of governmental neutrality imposed connected immoderate FIFA authoritative by Article 15 of its Code of Ethics."

The authoritative FIFA Code of Ethics states the pursuing astir governmental neutrality:

"In dealings with authorities institutions, nationalist and planetary organizations, associations and groupings, persons bound by this Code shall, successful summation to observing the basal rules of art, stay politically neutral, successful accordance with the principles and objectives of FIFA, the confederations, associations, leagues and clubs, and mostly enactment successful a mode compatible with their relation and integrity.

"Violation of this nonfiction shall beryllium sanctioned with an due good of astatine slightest CHF 10,000 arsenic good arsenic a prohibition connected taking portion successful immoderate football-related enactment for a maximum of 2 years."

TRUMP THREATENS TO PULL WORLD CUP GAMES OUT OF BOSTON IF 'THERE'S UNSAFE CONDITIONS'

President Donald Trump and archetypal woman Melania Trump successful the stands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his wife, Leena Al Ashqar, during the last of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, N.J., July 13, 2025. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters via Imagn Images)

However, that conception is successful Article 14, and not Article 15 that Maduro mentioned.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to FIFA and the White House for a response. FIFA declined to springiness a effect to The Athletic. 

Trump, during his archetypal term, developed a relationship with Infantino portion securing the hosting rights for the U.S., alongside Canada and Mexico, for the 2026 World Cup.

Shortly aft the U.S. was awarded the tournament, Trump hosted Infantino astatine the White House. Infantino, who was besides serving his archetypal word arsenic FIFA president, made an content by handing Trump reddish and yellowish punishment cards, joking they could beryllium utilized connected the press.

The narration flourished successful 2020 arsenic some men planned their futures.

During a meal that January astatine the planetary economical acme successful Davos, adjacent FIFA's location successful Zurich, Infantino called the U.S. president "my large friend." Trump, ever appreciative of a compliment, responded by inviting Infantino to a White House signing lawsuit for the Abraham Accords, which sought to normalize diplomatic relations betwixt Israel and respective Arab countries.

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U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino speech successful the Oval bureau of the White House aft signing an enforcement bid for a task unit related to the FIFA World Cup successful Washington, D.C., March 7, 2025 (Jim Watson/AFP)

Trump has signed an enforcement bid establishing a White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which volition beryllium hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Trump volition service arsenic the seat of the task force, portion Vice President JD Vance volition service arsenic the vice chair.

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