Gianni Infantino accused of breaking strict FIFA rule in Donald Trump meeting

FIFA president Gianni Infantino may have breached FIFA’s Code of Ethics during an appearance at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting.

On Thursday (19 February), the first-ever meeting of the Board of Peace was headed by Donald Trump in Washington.

The group was launched in January and is seen as an alternative to the United Nations, an organisation which Trump has been vocally critical of.

Around 60 world leaders were invited to join, although the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Russia and China were among the absentees in the US capital.

Among the 24 countries that have signed up are Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. Trump has previously described the board as a “new international transitional body” aiming to rebuild Gaza after the recent conflict with Israel, who are also signed up to the Board of Peace.

During Thursday’s meeting, the board pledged a £5.2bn “relief package” for Gaza.

A second phase of a US-backed ceasefire plan includes the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained how the nation had “agreed with our ally the US that there will be no reconstruction of Gaza before the demilitarisation of Gaza”.

Alongside the world leaders in attendance during yesterday’s meeting was FIFA president Infantino, who has been working closely with Trump ahead of the upcoming World Cup, which will take place in the US, Mexico and Canada this summer.

Infantino spoke at the meeting and outlined plans for football infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip. He then announced “a true partnership between the Board of Peace and FIFA”.

Meanwhile, a clip of him wearing a red baseball cap with “USA” emblazoned on it has emerged online, which may land the Swiss national in hot water.

According to Article 15 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, “In dealings with government institutions, national and international organisations, associations and groupings, persons bound by this Code shall, in addition to observing the basic rules of Article 14, remain politically neutral, in accordance with the principles and objectives of FIFA, the confederations, associations, leagues and clubs, and generally act in a manner compatible with their function and integrity”.

Article 14 says that people bound by the ethical code, which Infantino will be, must “refrain from any activity or behaviour or any attempted activity or behaviour that might give rise to the appearance or suspicion of improper conduct”.

Violations of the code can result in a fine of 10,000 CHF (£9,563) and a potential maximum ban from football-related activities of two years.

It must be noted that it is unclear whether Infantino breached the code.