Miguel Maduro, the former leader of FIFA’s Governance Committee, has raised concerns about current FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s recent comments supporting President Donald Trump, suggesting they may breach FIFA’s bylaws on political neutrality.
In an interview with The Athletic, Maduro expressed that Infantino’s remarks at the American Business Forum in Miami—where he praised Trump by saying, “I think what he’s doing is very good and I think we should all support him”—could indeed be seen as a violation. Maduro emphasized, “The last part of the statement not only acknowledges Trump’s legitimacy but also endorses his political platform, suggesting that other nations should back his actions. This puts Infantino squarely in the midst of U.S. political debates.”
Continuing, Maduro pointed out that while legitimacy can be acknowledged, it’s important to remember that democracy allows for differing opinions. “To maintain political neutrality, FIFA officials shouldn’t publicly support any political discussion, especially not to insist that everyone should back Trump’s policies,” he noted. This, he argued, contradicts FIFA’s ethics guidelines as stated in Article 15.
The FIFA Code of Ethics emphasizes political neutrality, stating that individuals tied to FIFA must act in a way that is compatible with the organization’s integrity. Violating this rule can lead to fines starting at CHF 10,000 and potentially a two-year ban from football-related activities.
Interestingly, there seems to be a mix-up here—Maduro referenced Article 15 when the relevant provision is actually in Article 14.
Requests for comments from FIFA and the White House resulted in FIFA choosing not to respond to The Athletic’s inquiries.
During his presidency, Trump fostered a close relationship with Infantino, particularly when the U.S. secured the rights to host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. After the U.S. won the bid, Trump welcomed Infantino to the White House, where Infantino humorously presented Trump with a red and yellow penalty card, suggesting he might find it useful for journalists.
The friendship solidified further in 2020, with Infantino referring to Trump as “my great friend” at a dinner in Davos, close to FIFA’s headquarters. Trump, ever one to appreciate compliments, invited Infantino to a significant signing event for the Abraham Accords, aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Trump has also signed an executive order establishing a White House task force, with himself as the chairman and Vice President J.D. Vance as vice chairman.
