The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has asked FIFA’s ethics committee to investigate the world football governing body’s award of a peace prize to US President Donald Trump, arguing that the decision breached FIFA’s political neutrality rules.
The NFF announced on Tuesday that it formally requested the ethics committee to look into the circumstances surrounding the award, which was given to Trump during the World Cup 2026 draw in Washington D.C. on December 6, 2025. The NFF President Lise Klaveness said the decision broke FIFA’s rules on political neutrality as Trump is a sitting political leader.
“We do not think it’s part of FIFA’s mandate to give such a prize. We think we have a Nobel Institute that does that job independently already,” Klaveness stated during a roundtable discussion with international media. “We think it’s important for football federations, confederations, and also FIFA to try to avoid situations where this arm’s-length distance to state leaders is challenged.”
Klaveness emphasized that the prize will typically be very political if FIFA does not have real good instruments and experience to make it independent. The award was announced by FIFA in November without the prior consent of its governing board, the FIFA Council, with the intention of recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to peace and united people globally.
The human rights advocacy group FairSquare submitted a formal complaint to FIFA, claiming that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has committed four distinct breaches of the neutrality regulations concerning his relationship with Trump. Klaveness has voiced her support for FairSquare’s initiatives, stating, “We have criticized the process openly because it was not anchored in the FIFA Council, and we believe it falls outside FIFA’s mandate to create such a prize.”
The Norwegian FA is aware that FIFA is likely to conclude that it has not committed any wrongdoing, as it’s common knowledge that FIFA is unlikely to uncover any wrongdoing in an internal investigation. The NFF could explore the option of bringing the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if FIFA concludes that it hasn’t committed wrongdoing.
Trump received the FIFA Peace Prize from Infantino during the draw for the World Cup 2026, endorsing the decision with a statement that said the award recognized significant contributions to peace and unity. Critics argue football bodies should avoid politically sensitive recognitions, while supporters say the prize highlights efforts toward global dialogue and peace.
The demand to abolish the FIFA Peace Prize comes months after Donald Trump received the award, a move that drew mixed international reactions. Norway has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and Klaveness has been critical of FIFA in the past regarding its functioning and governance.
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