The anticipated celebration of the World Cup draw turned into a somber display of political flattery by FIFA President Gianni Infantino towards US President Donald Trump.
Infantino, known for his admiration for Trump’s “Make America Great Again” ideology, presented Trump with a newly coined “Peace Prize” at the Kennedy Centre, just a stone’s throw away from the White House. This move, amidst the ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the two leaders, shocked the football community.
A grand tribute video dedicated solely to Trump played on large screens, followed by the presentation of a custom trophy with Trump’s name already inscribed on it. Infantino returned to the stage to officially declare Trump as the inaugural recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize.
In a cringe-worthy moment, Trump received a gold medal and a certificate, showcasing an aura of self-admiration as he donned the medal himself. The ceremony, rife with pomp and circumstance, was deemed distasteful by many observers.
The event, intended to highlight football’s unifying spirit, instead highlighted FIFA’s shift towards becoming a propaganda tool for a polarizing figure like Trump, raising questions about its integrity and neutrality.
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