World Cup star Jackson Irvine has risked the wrath of Donald Trump by speaking out against FIFA's decision to award the US President its inaugural peace prize. The Australia international, who is set to feature at this summer's tournament, described the move as making a mockery of FIFA's human rights charter.
FIFA's Controversial Decision
FIFA gave Donald Trump its peace prize in December, a decision that has drawn widespread criticism. The award, introduced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, is meant for someone who has 'taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace' and 'united people across the world'. Trump accepted the honour, calling it 'one of the great honours of my life' and claiming he had 'saved millions and millions of lives'.
Since receiving the award, Trump has launched a military strike on Venezuela and started a war with Iran. With the World Cup starting on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Trump and his policies have become a talking point in football.
Jackson Irvine's Criticism
Jackson Irvine, who plays for German club St Pauli and will represent Australia this summer, has spoken out against FIFA's direction under Infantino's leadership. 'As an organisation, you would have to say decisions like the one that we saw awarding this peace prize makes a mockery of what they're trying to do with the human rights charter and trying to use football as a global driving force for good and positive change in the world,' the 33-year-old told Reuters.
'Decisions like that feel like they just set us back in the perceived market of what football currently is, especially at the top level where it's becoming so disconnected from society and the grassroots of what the game actually is and means in our communities and in the world.'
Infantino's Defence
Despite widespread condemnation, Infantino has stuck by the decision, claiming in February that Trump 'objectively deserves it' for his role in organising a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle also defended the award, saying: 'There is no one else in the world more deserving of FIFA's first ever peace prize than President Trump. Anyone who thinks otherwise clearly suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.'
Political Issues Ahead of the World Cup
The build-up to the World Cup has been dominated by political issues, with Iran's presence in the tournament a major talking point. Iran are set to take part, despite Trump saying it would not be 'appropriate' for the Iranians to compete 'for their own life and safety'. Irvine was part of a group of Australian players who criticised Qatar's human rights record before the 2022 World Cup and is hopeful that this summer's tournament will help shine a light on similar issues in the US.
'It's not an issue just in the Middle East, in America we're seeing more and more of the rights of these communities ... being taken away all over the country,' he said. 'We have to sincerely hope that we see a lot of open support in that space as well.'
