FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended his organization's controversial decision toaward Donald Trump its inaugural Peace Prize.
The U.S. president was presented the award at the 2026 World Cup draw in December, just one month after FIFA announced the creation of the prize.
Though he conceded there had been a "strong reaction" to Trump winning the award, Infantino insisted the prize was deserved.
"Whatever we can do to help peace in the world, we should be doing it, and for this reason, for some time we were thinking about (whether) we should do something to reward people who do something," he said in aninterview with Sky News.
The FIFA president, who has a close relationship with Trump, said that "objectively, he deserves it."
Photos show Trump and celebs gather for 2026 World Cup draw
Many speculated the FIFA Peace Prize was invented to placate Trump, who has been publicly fuming over not winning the Nobel Peace Prize since it was awarded in October.
According to The Athletic, FIFA's Council and vice presidents were not "consulted or involved" in the award's creation, as they normally would have been with such an initiative.
The prize has looked even stranger in hindsight afterU.S. troops invaded Venezuela and removed its president Nicolás Maduroand his wife, followed by the fatal shootings of two American citizens last month amid an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Infantino, however, pointed to the actual winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, to say Trump was deserving.
"It's not just Gianni Infantino who said it ... (there's) a Nobel Peace Prize winner who said this," Infantino said.
"He was instrumental in resolving conflicts and saving lives and saving thousands of lives."
Machadopresented her Nobel Prize to Trumpduring a meeting last month as she continues to seek his endorsement to be Maduro's long-term replacement.
Trump said that Machado giving him the award was "a wonderful gesture of mutual respect," but the Nobel committeereleased a statementthat said it didn't hold any official weight.
"Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others," the statement said. "The decision is final and stands for all time."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:FIFA's Gianni Infantino defends awarding Peace Prize to Donald Trump
