Norwegian FA backs ethics complaint against FIFA president over political neutrality breach

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has formally submitted a letter of support for an ethics complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, citing a breach of political neutrality rules. NFF President Lise Klaveness confirmed the submission at a press conference on Tuesday, just ahead of the national team’s departure for the 2026 World Cup. The complaint, originally lodged by human rights organisation FairSquare with FIFA’s ethics committee, challenges Infantino’s decision to present the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump during the tournament’s draw in December.

Klaveness acknowledged that the NFF’s stance has triggered political friction within the sport’s governing body. She noted that FIFA officials reacted to the letter during a meeting in Budapest over the weekend, which coincided with the Champions League final. Klaveness described the discussions as constructive, stating that while the letter was perceived as problematic by FIFA officials because it came from a member association, the dialogue allowed for a clearer understanding of Norway’s position.

The core of the complaint centres on whether the award and Infantino’s actions violated FIFA statutes regarding political neutrality. Klaveness argued that the NFF submitted the letter independently, choosing not to pressure other member associations to join the formal complaint, although she confirmed receiving support from other federations. She emphasised that the NFF’s action was a standalone move to uphold governance standards.

Beyond supporting the existing complaint, Klaveness called for the abolition of the FIFA Peace Prize entirely. She argued that scrapping the award was necessary to protect the organisation’s political neutrality and prevent future controversies. The NFF has asked the ethics committee to assess whether the FIFA president violated governing body statutes through the award and related actions.

Looking ahead, Klaveness outlined that the NFF would continue to push the issue once the World Cup concludes. She stated that the federation would request meetings and build momentum on the matter in the post-tournament period. Al Jazeera contacted FIFA for comment regarding the NFF’s letter but had not received a reply at the time of publication.