The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony faced unexpected problems. The winner's press conference was suddenly cancelled. This happened while another issue arose about football's world governing body. These events have caused big discussions. They are about important awards, political neutrality, and the safety of people who speak out.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute had to cancel a media event. This event was for María Corina Machado, this year's winner. She is an opposition figure from Venezuela. The cancellation happened just hours before the event. Institute leaders said they did not know where she was. They also did not know her travel plans to Norway. Machado has been hiding since an election earlier this year. The Venezuelan government has brought charges against her. She has only sent video messages from unknown places. A Nobel Institute spokesperson said, "We are also in the dark." This shows the unusual situation.
This unexpected problem has affected the award ceremony. The government in Caracas warned Machado. They said she would be seen as a fugitive if she left Venezuela. Her last public appearance was almost a year ago. This shows how difficult it is for her to move. It also shows the real risks she faces.
At the same time, a different problem has appeared in sports. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing strong criticism. He gave an award to former U.S. President Donald Trump. This was at an event for the 2026 World Cup. Infantino also said Trump should get a Nobel Peace Prize. Many people say this was a clear political endorsement.
A human rights group called FairSquare has made a complaint to FIFA. They say Infantino broke FIFA rules. These rules say FIFA must be politically neutral. They believe his actions harm the fairness of global football. Nicholas McGeehan from FairSquare said, "This is about how FIFA’s rules were ignored."
Both of these situations are very important. For the Nobel Institute, Machado's possible absence is a big problem. It highlights the difficult conditions that led to her award. In sports, the complaint will start a review. This review may look at the behavior of leaders in international groups. These events show how complicated peace symbols and global influence can be. One winner's prize is affected by threats. The other shows the dangers of mixing important awards with politics.