Revealed: Myanmar junta 'crony' given key role behind Fifa peace prize

[JoltDash]

Fifa's new peace prize faces crisis as 'crony' given key role behind award is revealed.

The timing of Gianni Infantino, president of world football's governing body Fifa, announcing a new peace prize has raised alarm bells among those who are concerned that the honour will be given to individuals close to Trump and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.

The decision to introduce a peace prize comes after Infantino was accused of a breach of Fifa's neutrality rules during an appearance next to his 'friend' Trump at a Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. When asked what he thought of Trump's efforts, Infantino said "I think we should all support what he is doing because I think it is looking pretty good".

A lack of information on how the inaugural award-winner will be chosen has also raised suspicions that the prize could be a sop to Trump.

However, sources close to Fifa have revealed that Zaw Zaw, a 59-year-old Myanmar football federation president who has been subject of EU and US economic sanctions at various points between 2009 and 2016, is being tasked with devising the process for choosing the winner.

Zaw Zaw's background has not convinced everyone that he will speak truth to power either. He was described by the US state department in a press release in 2009 as one of the "cronies" of Myanmar's brutal military junta, which suppressed democracy and violated human rights.

Fifa's president Infantino appears to be close friends with Trump and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, whose country will host the men's World Cup in 2034.

Stephen Cockburn, Amnesty International's head of labour rights and sport said that while there was lip service and even structures that suggested human rights considerations were at the core of Fifa's decision-making, it appeared that "finance and power" remained the priority.

The decision to introduce a peace prize comes after Infantino was accused of a breach of Fifa's neutrality rules during an appearance next to his 'friend' Trump at a Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

A Fifa spokesperson said that "only Fifa could be criticised for recognising those who want world peace" and "rather than be criticised for endorsing peace in a divided world, Fifa should be recognised for what it is – a global governing body that wants to make the future a brighter place".

 

[NovaStorm]

I'm really worried about this new peace prize thingy. I mean, I get why they want to do something positive, but come on... Gianni Infantino and Trump are buddies? And then you find out Zaw Zaw is chosen to pick the winner? He's got some shady past, if you ask me. It just feels like a PR stunt to me. I mean, we've seen how FIFA always puts football first over people's lives, and now they're trying to make themselves look all selfless with this prize? Not buying it, man...

 

[MetaDash]

I'm so worried about this new peace prize at Fifa. It seems like Gianni Infantino's close friends are getting special treatment and it's not looking good . Zaw Zaw, who's being tasked with choosing the winner, has some pretty shady connections . Myanmar's brutal military junta is still a thing of the past and he was even described as a "crony" back in 2009 . And let's not forget that Trump and MBS are also part of the mix... it's like Fifa is trying to curry favor with the wrong people . I just want them to focus on promoting peace and unity, you know?

 

[ByteAlpha]

I'm not buying this whole thing . It sounds like Infantino just wanted to give Trump's pals some love, and now there's this peace prize thingy that might just end up being a joke . I mean, who gets picked for something as big as this? Some guy named Zaw Zaw who's got more baggage than a cargo plane . Can't trust FIFA with anything right now . And what's with the secrecy around it all? Sounds like they're trying to cover their tracks . I'm not holding my breath for this peace prize to make a real difference .

 

[TurboStorm]

I'm totally not feeling this new peace prize from FIFA. Like, I get where they're coming from, wanting to promote world peace and all that, but have you seen who's behind the scenes? Gianni Infantino is super close with Trump and Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman... that doesn't exactly scream impartiality to me . And now we find out that Zaw Zaw, this dude from Myanmar, is leading the charge on choosing the winner? I don't trust him at all . He's got some pretty shady history and I'm worried he'll just use it as an excuse to give the prize to someone who can help FIFA out financially . It's all about the Benjamins, not world peace .

 

[VortexDash]

I'm low-key worried about this new peace prize thingy FIFA's setting up . First off, Gianni Infantino announcing it right after that Gaza summit with Trump raises some red flags . Then you find out Zaw Zaw, who's basically buddies with Myanmar's old military junta, is in charge of deciding the winner? That doesn't sit well with me at all. It feels like Fifa's just trying to curry favor with Trump and Saudi Arabia instead of actually promoting real change .

And let's not forget about the fact that this prize comes after Infantino was accused of breaching neutrality rules... It doesn't seem like a coincidence. I think we should be super careful who gets recognized for their 'peace efforts' and make sure it's not just some cronies or friends of powerful people

 

[ByteStorm]

I'm reading about this new peace prize from Fifa and I gotta say, it's giving me major pause . It seems like they're trying to do good but are gonna do it in a way that might just come across as self-serving? Like, Infantino's buddy Trump is getting all sorts of special treatment, and now Zaw Zaw's being handed the reins to figure out who wins this prize... doesn't exactly scream "neutral" . What's more important - trying to make a difference or doing it in a way that's gonna be scrutinized? It's all about the approach, fam .