Norway’s Football Federation has submitted two formal complaints to FIFA, calling for an investigation into President Gianni Infantino over allegations of potential abuse of power, conflicts of interest, and breaches of governance rules. The complaints, filed Tuesday to FIFA’s Ethics Committee and its Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee, focus on three interconnected matters tied to U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Norwegian federation, led by president Lise Klaveness, alleges that Infantino’s decision to award Trump the FIFA Peace Prize last year, the reversal of a red card suspension involving U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup, and the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) investment scheme all suggest possible unethical conduct and a lack of transparency within FIFA’s leadership.
The FFE initiative aimed to open parts of the World Cup’s commercial operations to private investors. Infantino’s plan, initially launched after the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, proposed allowing investment stakes in a new entity created under the FFE scheme. However, the plan was quickly abandoned following public and institutional backlash. Notably, the primary investor involved was Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, which has raised concerns about conflicts of interest.
Klaveness emphasized that Donald Trump’s involvement is a common thread in all three cases. The controversy over Balogun’s suspension unfolded when the U.S. player received a red card during a group-stage game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an automatic ban for the knockout round match against Belgium. Following a reported direct intervention by Trump via phone call to Infantino, FIFA lifted the suspension, allowing Balogun to play. This decision drew widespread criticism and calls for transparency regarding communications surrounding the matter.
Additionally, the creation and awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump by Infantino has been met with skepticism and ridicule within football circles and beyond. Critics argue that the prize was established unilaterally by Infantino without consulting FIFA’s governing council, raising questions about governance processes.
Klaveness, a former international footballer who has been an outspoken critic of Infantino, called for full disclosure of all relevant documents and communications related to these incidents. She stated that the cases, while distinct in their details, collectively raise concerns about potential abuses of power, political bias, and adherence to FIFA’s rules and strategic decision-making frameworks.
Infantino, who has been president since 2016 and is pursuing a fourth term in the March elections in Rabat, has dismissed calls for resignation. No other official candidates have yet declared, though Canadian Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, is seen as a possible contender. European football’s governing body UEFA, which has criticized Infantino’s leadership and condemned the FFE plan as opaque, remains aligned with regional confederations in seeking reforms within FIFA.
The Norwegian complaints mark a significant escalation in scrutiny over FIFA’s governance just months ahead of its leadership election, with broader implications for the organization’s transparency and political neutrality.