The FIFA peace prize, initially mocked and criticized for its association with its first recipient, has been demoted by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The global governing body has assigned the award to its social responsibility committee in an effort to redeem it and spare Infantino from ongoing embarrassment.
A Successful Political Maneuver
The first awarding of the prize was designed to flatter Donald Trump, whom Infantino needed to keep supportive to protect financial interests in the North American market and strengthen his power within FIFA. Trump accepted the award, placing a golden medal around his own neck.
As reported by The Guardian, the 22-person social responsibility committee is now tasked with recasting the prize to recognize social harmony and responsibility. The committee is expected to depoliticize the award or avoid giving it to politicians, especially with no aspiring autocrats needing immediate appeasement, as Saudi Arabia’s de-facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman does not appear interested in such accolades.
Potential for Meaningful Recognition
While the first version of the award symbolized Infantino’s hubris and alignment with strongmen—pending his political survival through upcoming challenges and a March presidential election—a second version holds genuine potential. It could highlight the positive impact of soccer and honor those who use the sport’s cultural influence to help others.
Potential recipients for a reimagined award include Afghan Women United, who play as refugees in exile and recently played friendlies against the Cook Islands as a protest against Taliban oppression. Another candidate is Shakhtar Donetsk, which has persevered despite being forced to play away from the Donbas region following the Russian invasion.
Other notable figures and groups include former Spain international Juan Mata for his Common Goal charity work, Marcus Rashford for his campaign to feed children during the pandemic, and players like Sadio Mané and N’Golo Kanté for funding infrastructure and hospitals in Senegal and Mali respectively. Grassroots supporters like Scotland’s Tartan Army and the England men’s national team players, who have donated over $6.7m (£5m) in match fees to charity since 2007, also represent the positive side of the sport.
Redefining the Award
The peace prize could benefit from rebranding to distance itself from past associations, alongside clearer regulations that were previously absent. While avoiding politics entirely is difficult when acknowledging social good, a sincere approach could properly reward the sport’s best citizens rather than serving the personal interests of the FIFA president.
Source: Football | The Guardian
