FIFA chief Gianni Infantino’s partnership with US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is not a violation of the Olympic Charter’s neutrality requirement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Saturday.
FIFA is supporting a comprehensive investment programme to revive sport in war-torn Gaza through football as part of Trump’s new initiative, an IOC spokesperson said, which is in line with the role of an international sports federation.
Infantino’s appearance at the first meeting of the board – which Europeans worry is a rival to the United Nations – caused a stir – especially when he was pictured wearing a red “USA” cap with 45 and 47 written on the side – Trump’s designations as president.
At the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday, IOC president Kirsty Coventry was asked about Infantino popping up in Washington given he is a member of the IOC and bound by its charter.
“I wasn’t aware that we had an IOC member front and centre,” she had told a news conference, annoyed at her team for not informing her.
“The Olympic charter is very clear on what it expects of its members.”
But the IOC has now checked the specifics and decided Swiss Infantino is not in breach. The men’s football World Cup is being held mainly by the US, as well as Canada and Mexico, in June and July.
