FIFA President Gianni Infantino celebrated a significant personal milestone in Beirut on Monday, as he was formally presented with a Lebanese passport at the Interior Ministry. This event follows months after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun granted him citizenship, marking a notable exception to the country's standard nationality regulations.
Ceremony at the Interior Ministry
During a meeting at the Interior Ministry in Beirut, Infantino completed the necessary documentation, including having his photograph and fingerprints taken, before receiving his new blue Lebanese passport. In a video broadcast by local TV stations, he expressed his joy, stating, "I'm very proud and very happy to be here in Beirut at the Ministry of Interior to finally get my Lebanese passport. I love Lebanon."
Background and Legal Exception
Infantino, who is married to Lebanese citizen Lina al-Ashkar, holds citizenship in Italy and Switzerland in addition to his new Lebanese status. Under Lebanese law, women typically cannot pass their citizenship to foreign husbands or children. However, President Aoun made a special exception for Infantino, extending citizenship to him and his family members. This contrasts with the standard practice where Lebanese men married to foreign women automatically pass nationality to their children, and wives become eligible after a specified marriage period.
Significance and Context
FIFA, as the international governing body for soccer, oversees global football operations, and Infantino's role places him in a prominent position within the sports world. The granting of citizenship highlights the unique circumstances surrounding his personal connections to Lebanon, amidst ongoing discussions about nationality laws in the country.
