Norway’s football federation has lodged formal complaints against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, alleging possible abuse of power and conflicts of interest related to three separate issues: the World Cup sell-off scheme, the establishment of the FIFA Peace Prize awarded to former U.S. President Donald Trump, and the revocation of a ban on U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. The complaints have been submitted to both FIFA’s ethics committee and its governance, audit, and compliance committee.
Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian federation, highlighted a common thread linking the cases, centering on Trump. The controversy over the World Cup sell-off involves the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which aimed to sell stakes in the tournament. Joshua Kushner, who is the brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was identified as the lead investor in the scheme. This has raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest and lack of transparency within FIFA’s leadership.
The second issue concerns Balogun, who was initially banned after being sent off in a World Cup group stage match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Trump reportedly contacted Infantino to request that the ban be lifted, which subsequently happened, allowing Balogun to play in the round of 16 against Belgium. This intervention has drawn scrutiny regarding the influence of external political figures on disciplinary decisions within the sport.
The third matter focuses on the creation of the FIFA Peace Prize in 2025, an award Infantino introduced to honor Trump. The Norwegian federation claims this decision was made without the necessary consultation with FIFA’s Council, raising questions about governance and adherence to internal protocols.
Klaveness described FIFA as being in the midst of one of its most significant crises in years, emphasizing the need for structural reforms to restore the organisation’s credibility and ensure proper governance.
Amid these developments, Bayern Munich has expressed interest in signing Manchester United’s teenage forward JJ Gabriel. The 16-year-old, who became eligible for transfer to European clubs this week, has reportedly been in contact with the German club since May, with renewed discussions occurring recently.
The complaints against Infantino mark a rare public challenge to FIFA’s leadership, reflecting broader concerns about governance and the influence of political and financial interests in international football. FIFA has not yet released a formal response to the allegations.