When Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, began courting Donald Trump during the former’s bid for re‑election, the world of football watched warily as the two men exchanged accolades that seemed more political than sporting.
A prize with political strings
In a move that has sparked outrage among football’s governing bodies, Infantino presented Trump with a so‑called ‘peace prize’ — a gesture that the U.S. president later leveraged to justify aggressive foreign policies, from regime change in Venezuela to heightened tensions with Iran.
The fallout extended to the pitch, where the USMNT striker Folarin Balogun found himself at the centre of a controversy that saw his red‑card suspension tied to what critics describe as political interference in player discipline.
Such incidents have led senior officials at UEFA and within FIFA itself to voice alarm, urging a comprehensive reform of the organization’s governance to safeguard the sport’s integrity.
The episode underscores a broader battle for the soul of soccer, a game historically celebrated for its inclusivity and democratic ethos, now threatened by alliances that prioritise personal and national agendas over the collective good.