The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has lodged formal complaints with FIFA alleging that President Gianni Infantino engaged in potential abuse of power and conflicts of interest. The filings, submitted to the organization’s Ethics Committee and its Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee (GACC), target three controversial incidents involving former US President Donald Trump.
NFF President Lise Klaveness described Trump as the connecting thread across all three matters: the failed attempt to introduce private investors into World Cup operations, the reversal of a suspension for US forward Folarin Balogun, and the conferral of a FIFA Peace Prize upon Trump.
The first submission, delivered on Tuesday, requests that the Ethics Committee investigate Infantino and any other individuals implicated for potential violations of FIFA’s Code of Ethics. The second filing urges the GACC to assess whether FIFA’s governance structures, financial oversight, and decision-making processes functioned as intended.
Klaveness, a former international footballer and prominent critic of the Swiss administrator, highlighted the FFE initiative, which sought to allow venture capital investment in football through a company backed by Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner. Although launched shortly after the successful July 2026 World Cup hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the plan faced immediate backlash, forcing Infantino to withdraw it within days.
“FIFA Forward Enterprise is a governance issue, but it’s connected to the two other cases because of conflict of interest and abuse of position, potentially,” Klaveness told British media. “There is a line between all these three cases, and it’s the same political regime.”
She further questioned the lack of transparency surrounding Balogun’s case. The American striker received an automatic red card during the Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, which carried a suspension for the subsequent match against Belgium. FIFA ultimately suspended the ban after reports emerged that Trump had personally intervened by contacting Infantino.
Klaveness emphasized that while the cases appear distinct, they share common themes she believes warrant scrutiny. “Is it an abuse of power, an abuse of position? Is it a breach of political neutrality?” she asked. “Is it in accordance with the rules of governance, as the FIFA Council should be the strategic body, and the president shouldn’t really have any unilateral power?”
The complaints arrive amid a heated presidential race. Infantino, 56, was first elected in 2016 and intends to seek a fourth term in Rabat next March. He requires a majority of votes from FIFA’s 211 member associations to win, with the candidacy deadline set for November 18. Klaveness announced in August that she would not run, despite suggestions from Infantino’s predecessor Sepp Blatter that she would be a strong candidate.
European football’s governing body, UEFA, under President Aleksander Ceferin, has been among the most vocal opponents of Infantino, describing the FFE plan as a “shady and opaque backroom deal.” UEFA has also filed a legal request in a Florida court to obtain documents related to the aborted initiative, aiming to gather evidence for a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland.
FIFA has accused UEFA of waging a “misinformation campaign” designed to influence the upcoming election. While UEFA and parts of the Asian Football Confederation have formed an alliance against Infantino, other confederations, including CAF and CONMEBOL, as well as key AFC members like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have expressed continued support for the current president.
I still don’t understand why private investors in World Cups is such a dirty word. Let the money flow.
So the venture capital plan died immediately but the political interference continues? The double standards are blinding.
Another complaint? How is the Ethics Committee not completely broken by now?
Did Trump really phone in to lift Balogun’s suspension? That sounds like a scandal waiting to explode.
Klaveness is holding a mirror to FIFA. Infantino cannot ignore these complaints before the election results.