The White House has hit back at critics of Donald Trump being awarded the FIFA Peace Prize, saying there is none more deserving than the US president, Reuters reported. 

Global soccer governing body FIFA gave Trump the inaugural award at the World Cup draw in December for “promoting peace and unity around the world”, triggering condemnation from human rights groups and activists in the lead-up to the World Cup.

Australian soccer player Jackson Irvine said this week that giving the award to Trump made a mockery of FIFA’s Human Rights Policy, while Norway’s soccer federation said FIFA should abolish the award.