The soccer boss who has become one of Donald Trump’s most reliable sycophants has finally been stopped by police—from being given a presidential-style motorcade.
Gianni Infantino, the president of world soccer body FIFA, had demanded that when he travels to Vancouver, Canada, for the World Cup in July, he get a bigger security presence than even the country’s prime minister.
But the man who invented a fake golden peace prize and then gave it to Donald Trump met his match in the city’s police.
Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize last December. / Amber Searls / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Formal motorcades where traffic is stopped are reserved for heads of state,” Vancouver Deputy Chief Don Chapman said in a statement, the Associated Press reported. “As the FIFA executive do not meet Internationally Protected Person (IPP) standards that would warrant such an escort (closing roads, intersections, not adhering to traffic devices, etc.), the request was declined.”
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s office added in a statement that “there will be no motorcade proceeding through traffic signals, and no Emergency Response Team assigned in the manner described.”
“Any transportation arrangements that are made will be appropriate, measured, and consistent with how Vancouver safely hosts major international events,” the statement said.FIFA requested a level four escort, according to Global BC News, which is the same measure taken for U.S. presidents, one level below the Pope, and one above Canada’s own prime minister.
But a FIFA spokesperson denied doing so.
FIFA “never requested a specific level of police motorcade for the FIFA President,” the spokesperson told the outlet, adding that the “FIFA President was not aware of, or involved in, any requests with authorities in relation to his transportation and security matters for the 76th FIFA Congress.”
The FIFA president shared a blurry photo of him and his 79-year-old bestie a UFC event in Miami in April. / Gianni Infantino/Instagram
The spokesperson added that the request was made by FWC26 Canada, which “liaised with authorities requesting support in relation to all delegates, guests, and stakeholders.”
The Daily Beast has contacted FIFA and the Vancouver police for comment.
Infantino, 56, has ingratiated himself with Trump in recent months. Late last year, he awarded the president—who had just lost out on the Nobel Peace Prize he had sought—with the hastily created “FIFA Peace Prize.” Infantino has also been seen in the Oval Office, at the president’s Board of Peace meetings, and by Trump’s side at UFC events.
For a while, the golden World Cup trophy even sat on the president’s desk after Trump had asked Infantino if he could keep it. The item was one of many gold items in his office.
Infantino also gifted Trump the “first ticket” to the World Cup final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium in July.