The Norwegian Football Federation has called for the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and formally referred three distinct issues to FIFA’s independent ethics committee for investigation, escalating a growing dispute over governance at football’s global governing body.
The federation announced the demand and the ethics referrals in a statement outlining serious concerns regarding recent decisions made under Infantino’s leadership. Among the matters submitted to the committee is the controversial reversal of a suspension imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun. The federation also challenged the decision to award a FIFA peace prize to former United States President Donald Trump, a move that has generated significant debate within the international football community. The specific nature of the third issue referred to the ethics committee was not disclosed publicly.
The Norwegian federation has been among the most vocal critics of FIFA’s current administrative direction. The call for Infantino to step down represents a significant escalation in tensions between a founding UEFA member association and the FIFA presidency. Infantino, who has headed the organization since 2016, has faced mounting scrutiny over a range of governance, commercial, and competitive decisions during his tenure.
The ethics committee, which operates independently of FIFA’s executive leadership, will now assess the Norwegian submissions to determine whether they warrant formal investigative proceedings. The committee’s mandate includes evaluating potential violations of the FIFA Code of Ethics, including provisions on loyalty, integrity, and conflicts of interest.
FIFA has not yet issued a public response to the Norwegian federation’s resignation demand or the ethics committee referrals. The development adds to existing pressure on the organization to demonstrate accountability and transparency in its decision-making processes. Observers note that the referrals could set a precedent for other national associations seeking to challenge FIFA leadership through formal institutional channels rather than public protest alone.
The situation underscores deepening fractures within global football governance as the sport approaches a congested period of major international tournaments. How FIFA responds to the ethics referrals and the resignation call will likely influence the broader relationship between the governing body and its member associations in the coming months.
