The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has lodged formal complaints with two FIFA committees alleging potential abuses of power and conflicts of interest involving FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The complaints focus on three key issues: Infantino’s halted initiative to involve private investors in the World Cup, the reversal of a suspension for U.S. player Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup following intervention by former U.S. President Donald Trump, and FIFA’s controversial decision to award a Peace Prize to Trump.
The first complaint, submitted to FIFA’s Ethics Committee on Tuesday, requests an investigation into Infantino’s conduct and that of any others implicated, with regard to possible breaches of FIFA’s Code of Ethics. The second filing, directed at FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee (GACC), questions whether FIFA’s governance structures, financial controls, and decision-making processes functioned properly in handling these matters.
Lise Klaveness, president of the NFF and a frequent critic of Infantino, highlighted Trump’s involvement across all three issues. She noted that the venture capital firm linked to the aborted FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, which aimed to allow private investment in the World Cup, was connected to Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. The FFE initiative was launched shortly after the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, but quickly faced strong opposition and was withdrawn.
Klaveness described the three concerns as interconnected governance issues involving potential abuses of position and conflicts of interest, all linked to the same political influence. “There is a line between all these three cases and it’s the same political regime,” she said.
The complaints also highlight controversy surrounding U.S. player Folarin Balogun’s suspension. Balogun received a red card during the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which automatically disqualified him from the subsequent match against Belgium. However, FIFA overturned the suspension after Trump reportedly called Infantino, a move that drew widespread criticism over the organization’s transparency and impartiality.
Additionally, FIFA’s decision to present a Peace Prize to Donald Trump last December has been met with ridicule and skepticism globally. Critics question the appropriateness and timing of the award amid ongoing political tensions.
The NFF’s formal actions underscore continuing concerns over governance and ethical standards within FIFA under Infantino’s leadership. FIFA has yet to issue an official response to the complaints.