FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO’S PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP AND A PEACE PRIZE AWARDED TO THE U.S. PRESIDENT ARE THE SUBJECTS OF FORMAL COMPLAINTS TO THE GLOBAL SOCCER BODY’S ETHICS INVESTIGATORS.

LONDON-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS NONPROFIT FAIRSQUARE SAID TUESDAY IT FILED REQUESTS FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO INFANTINO’S ALLEGED BREACHES OF FIFA’S STATUTORY DUTY TO BE POLITICALLY NEUTRAL.

FIFA’S ETHICS CODE CALLS FOR A BAN FROM SOCCER OF UP TO TWO YEARS FOR VIOLATING THE DUTY OF NEUTRALITY, THOUGH IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE CASE WILL BE TAKEN UP.

INFANTINO HAS EXPRESSED VIEWS THIS YEAR BACKING TRUMP AND HIS POLICIES, INCLUDING SUGGESTING THE U.S. PRESIDENT DESERVED TO GET THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, WHICH HE DID NOT WIN.

ON FRIDAY, TRUMP WAS AWARDED THE FIFA PEACE PRIZE.

UPSOUND (English): "Thank you very much, this is truly one of the great honors of my life."

FIFA HAS NOT SPECIFIED HOW INFANTINO CREATED THE PEACE PRIZE, THOUGH PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS SAID THEY LEARNED ABOUT IT THROUGH MEDIA REPORTS.

IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUESTS FOR INVESTIGATIONS, FIFA SAID ITS ETHICS COMMITTEE DOES NOT COMMENT ON POTENTIAL ONGOING CASES, AND COULD NOT CONFIRM RECEIVING THE COMPLAINT.