Trump awarded peace prize by Fifa – will there be a VAR review?

The event had all the subtlety of a dry lecture or a televised tally from an isolated country. Unsurprisingly, Donald Trump was announced as the first recipient of the Fifa Peace Award during a flamboyant and extravagant World Cup draw on Friday, an occasion seemingly crafted to cater to the former presidents ego.

Fifa President Gianni Infantino, standing under the bright lights, presented the award on stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in snowy Washington. This is your award your peace prize! he declared as Trump approached the podium. The trophy itself, a golden globe atop five oversized hands, was displayed prominently, along with a medal for Trump to wear, emphasizing the celebratory excess.

Trump, glowing under the stage lights, quickly donned the medal and told the audience of 2,000, This is truly one of the great honors of my life. The moment served as a subtle rebuke to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which had previously overlooked the former president.

Throughout the past year, global leaders learned that overt flattery was often the best approach with Trump. Infantino, pursuing this dynamic relentlessly, placed Trump at the center of a major international sporting event. The parallels with history were clear: just as Mussolini used the 1934 World Cup to promote Italys power, Fifa leveraged Trumps presence for global attention. Infantino had been a frequent visitor to Trumps events, from his inauguration to Mar-a-Lago gatherings, and even supported Trump during other football celebrations. Fifa has now opened an office in Trump Tower in New York.

The World Cup draw itself was held at the Kennedy Center, near investigations into potential corruption linked to a Trump appointee, adding an unintended layer of irony. The event opened with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performing Nessun Dorma, followed by hosts Heidi Klum in gold and comedian Kevin Hart. Highlights included historical football clips, and the spectacle was filled with music, including performances by Nicole Scherzinger and Robbie Williams.

The award presentation featured a video narration emphasizing Trumps contributions to diplomacy and global unity through football. The narration highlighted eight conflicts reportedly addressed during his tenure, without mentioning controversial actions or alliances. The audience saw footage of Trump at international peace summits, meetings with world leaders, and Infantinos enthusiastic approval.

Trump joined Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on stage behind podiums, participating in what resembled a game-show segment. He reminisced about watching Pel with the New York Cosmos and noted that the sport should be called football. After the draw concluded, the ceremony ended in full spectacle style, with the Village People performing Y.M.C.A., marking a triumphant moment for both Trump and Infantino.

Author: Gavin Porter