Norway's football federation files FIFA ethics complaint over Infantino

Mixed · 2On Tuesday 6 October 2026 the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) filed two formal requests with FIFA bodies over governance and ethics concerns involving FIFA President Gianni Infantino. 1 2 Mixed · 2The first is an ethics complaint asking FIFA's Ethics Committee to examine the conduct of Infantino and any other individuals identified in an investigation for potential breaches of the Code of Ethics. 1 2 Mixed · 2The second is a referral to FIFA's Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee (GACC), asking whether FIFA's governance, financial oversight, internal controls and decision-making processes worked as intended. 1 2

Centre · 1Both filings concern three cases: the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, the handling of US forward Folarin Balogun's suspension at the 2026 World Cup, and the creation and awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize. 1 Mixed · 2Balogun was sent off in the US's last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, which brought an automatic one-match suspension. FIFA made the ban conditional, so he could play against Belgium, after US President Donald Trump phoned Infantino and asked for a review of the red card. The NFF wants FIFA to examine the communications around the decision, whether outside contacts influenced the disciplinary process, and whether rules on the independence of disciplinary bodies were followed. 1 2 Mixed · 2The FFE plan would have let private investors buy minority stakes, reported by Anadolu as around 20%, in a new FIFA-controlled commercial entity managing rights to major competitions including the World Cup. It was withdrawn in July after opposition from football bodies. Al Jazeera says the venture capital firm of Josh Kushner, brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared, was to be the chief investor, and that the backlash forced what it called a humiliating climbdown within days. The NFF asks how the project got so far, whether internal controls worked, and whether any financial interest or future role for Infantino was contemplated. 1 2

Centre · 1On the Peace Prize, created in 2025 and awarded to Trump that year, the NFF asks how it was created, who approved it, what role the FIFA Council played, and whether it was consistent with FIFA's requirements on political neutrality. 1 Mixed · 2NFF President Lise Klaveness said the aim is "to establish the facts in the cases and ensure accountability within FIFA's own regulations", and that relevant documents and communications should be made available to FIFA's member associations. In an interview with a British newspaper, Klaveness said Trump was the common thread, and asked whether the cases show an abuse of power or position or a breach of political neutrality. 1 2 Left · 1Klaveness called on Infantino in August to resign and not seek a fourth term, but Infantino, 56, says he will stand for re-election in Rabat next March. Candidacies close on 18 November, and no other candidate has yet declared. Klaveness says they will not run. 2

Right · 1Infantino, first elected in 2016, needs a majority of the 211 member votes. Klaveness's name has been floated by some observers, including former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, while UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has said he is not interested, and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani of Canada is thought the likeliest rival. 3 Left · 1Al Jazeera adds that UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC have formed an anti-Infantino alliance, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, CAF and CONMEBOL back Infantino. UEFA has gone to a Florida court seeking documents on the FFE plan for a possible criminal complaint in Switzerland, and FIFA has accused UEFA of a "misinformation campaign" meant to influence the election. 2 Right · 1UEFA has called the FFE plan "a shady and opaque backroom deal", and Al Jazeera and Arab News both report that some AFC members, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have pledged loyalty to Infantino. 3