Infantino defends awarding Trump the peace prize

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has apologized for his controversial remarks about British fans. Infantino explained that his comments were intended as a lighthearted attempt to highlight the peaceful atmosphere of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, praising the behavior of English fans who attended the tournament. His statement that no British fans were arrested during the World Cup drew sharp criticism from the Football Supporters' Association and the head of football policing in Britain, who described his remarks as inaccurate and offensive. Separately, Infantino defended his decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to former US President Donald Trump, asserting that Trump played a crucial role in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which saved thousands of lives, and that Trump deserved the award. The FIFA president also addressed the issue of Russia's return to international competitions after its ban following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, noting that the ban had not yielded positive results but rather exacerbated tensions. He called for a review of allowing Russian players to participate in tournaments, particularly at the youth level. Infantino explained that FIFA and UEFA would discuss this matter soon, mentioning plans to hold under-15 tournaments involving all member associations. Regarding the boycott of the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Infantino rejected the idea despite the internal political crises in the US, emphasizing that football is an occasion that brings people together and unites them, transcending political and social divisions.