FIFA's President, Trump and the Pursuit for Peace: An Association Football Initiative

'THIS-ISM … THAT-ISM …'

Following the Venezuelan opposition leader was awarded the latest Nobel Peace Prize for her "tireless efforts promoting political freedoms", the American president reacted with the type of generous reaction people could predict. Having consistently conducted a campaign of self-promotion to ensure he won it himself, the leader quickly took credit for the Venezuelan political figure's triumph, cataloged his own personally declared and regularly questionable accomplishments in the area of world conflict resolution and attacked the authority of the awarding body who made the decision not to award the honor, financial compensation and diploma to him.

Although protection considerations indicate it is still uncertain if the latest Nobel laureate will appear from hiding to receive her accolade in person at the Norwegian event in the final month, a certain overly deferential football association leader appears determined on stealing her thunder anyway. Certainly, the FIFA president has opted to present an honor for peace of his personal invention in facing a worldwide broadcast audience of numerous global soccer enthusiasts earlier that week in the US city.

A man who has over many years preached the significance of preserving political matters out of soccer, specifically when they are the type of politics he finds uncomfortable or just objects to, the FIFA leader used his position at the America Business Forum in the Florida city to promote his agenda about the power of soccer to connect individuals of diverse ethnicities and creed, notably those who have a spare $5,000-plus knocking around to purchase flexibly valued Global Soccer Tournament passes.

"In a growingly unsettled and separated world, it's crucial to recognize the remarkable effort of those who strive earnestly to resolve disagreements and bring people together in a spirit of harmony", he declared. "Football stands for peace and on behalf of the complete sports family, the Fifa Peace Prize – Football Unites The World will celebrate the enormous endeavors of those individuals who unite people, bringing confidence for coming years."

But who might he reference? While Infantino was careful not to offer specific indications about the identity of the first honor's selected honoree, he proceeded to move into a probably separate and obsequious homage to his current Personal Ally (Or In The Short Term), the American leader. His statements undoubtedly had the desired effect. Globally, the most cynical of commentators were aligned in stating they recognized specifically who would be obtaining the Pretend Peace Prize, with certain individuals even advancing to make entirely baseless assertions that the convicted felon and sports rule-breaking man-baby in question might possibly pressured the FIFA head to create the honor simply to compensate for the chief executive's sense of grievance at failing to receive the authentic award.

As plausible a scenario as it seems, The Athletic Coverage begs to differ, if only because in the past few months the increasingly absurd Fifa boss has worked his path so far into the president's favor that it's very likely this new wheeze was actually his own idea.

And while one might reasonably conclude it stays outside Infantino's limited wit to deliver the mother of all curveballs by giving the organization's inaugural (and perhaps final) ever PPP to Greta Thunberg, Volodymyr Zelenskyy or that member of the Italian team's technical team who intervened between the player and the manager to stop an unpleasant Bigger Cup sideline confrontation, one might desire the Chelsea player and his club colleagues are asked to attend to the capital in full kit to execute a revenge-hijack of Trump's presentation ceremony.

That particular metallic questionable trophy, or whatever other equally suitable ornament the FIFA president chooses to give the US leader for his services to international unity and togetherness, would sufficiently offset the victory honor he notoriously palmed and retained during the Club World Cup final honor occasion.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Someone who collaborated a lot with entertainment icons advised me that the time that they reach famous is the age they stay for all their future years. I thought: 'That fails to bode well for me.' I was under public scrutiny at young adulthood and positioned before journalists. You mature, you become a parent, but you're still an athlete. Then, all of a sudden, it concludes but your whole identity is still connected in the game" – the former footballer is on good form during a superb conversation.

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