March 25 – German FA president Bernd Neuendorf has once again defended the FIFA Peace Prize, even though the FIFA Council was not consulted beforehand.
In December, FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino awarded the organisation’s first Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in Washington D.C. Neuendorf, a FIFA Council member, was one of the first – and few – to defend the prize.
In a podcast with WDR, Neuendorf reiterated his position, explaining: “I said at the time that this was immediately after the conflict in Gaza had ended, and I’ve said that before, and I stand by it. I do believe that this conflict could not have been ended without the USA.
“And at that point, and this also has to be said because we, of course, massively supported Israel, even against many, many voices that said Israel should be excluded from international football, where we were always very clear and said: No, that absolutely must not happen.”
The German DFB president admitted that the FIFA Council hadn’t been consulted in the process of establishing and awarding the prize.
On paper, the FIFA Council is one of the highest decision-making bodies in world football, but under Infantino, the Council has largely become a rubber-stamping entity. Ordinary members receive $250,000 a year while FIFA vice-presidents enjoy a pay package of $300,000.
“We hadn’t discussed this beforehand in the FIFA Council,” explained Neuendorf. “First, should the award even exist? Second, what criteria would have to be met? Third, who would be nominated? These things weren’t addressed. And of course, it had already leaked that Donald Trump was to receive this award.”
He also ruled out boycotts of the World Cup.
“I always feel that if we say we reject a World Cup in Saudi Arabia, that we boycott the USA, we’re taking ourselves out of the game,” said Neuendorf.
“I believe it’s important to stay in the game, even if it’s difficult, to say, okay, this is our position, and can’t we talk about it again? Can we perhaps come together on this point? Is there any way we can move in our direction, even just a little? I will never take myself out of the game. That’s why there’s no boycott.”
The German FA were among the few associations that were vocal ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where the Mannschaft covered their mouths with their hands in protest against FIFA threatening sanctions for wearing the OneLove Armband.
However, Neuendorf and the DFB have refrained from taking any critical stand over the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, a tournament that FIFA awarded to the Arab Kingdom following a contentious fast-tracked ‘bidding’ process and that is already attracting more controversy over the fate of migrant workers.
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