Norwegian FA urges Infantino to resign immediately

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has formally called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign immediately, saying institutional trust in his leadership has collapsed. The federation said its position reflects what it described as a sustained decline in confidence at the top of world football’s governing body.

NFF President Lise Klaveness said, “There is no trust in Infantino now.” The NFF linked its demand directly to the collapse of the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” initiative, which involved unsuccessful efforts to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.

Failed “FIFA Forward Enterprise” plan triggers escalation

The Norwegian Football Federation The NFF said the failed investment scheme has intensified long-running concerns about FIFA’s direction and decision-making. In describing the current moment, the NFF board characterised global football governance as chaotic and polarised following the outcome of the initiative.

Officials in Norway framed the resignation call as the next step after what they said was a pattern of controversies and repeated warnings. The federation did not present the matter as a single disagreement, but as a cumulative breakdown of confidence tied to FIFA’s leadership.

NFF to prepare a complaint for FIFA ethics committee Beyond demanding Infantino’s immediate resignation, the NFF said it is preparing a formal submission to the FIFA ethics committee. The federation said the complaint will set out details of the failed “FIFA Forward Enterprise” scheme and additional issues it considers serious.

According to the NFF, the planned ethics submission will also reference the controversial awarding of a peace prize to a political figure and specific conduct matters connected to the most recent World Cup. The federation did not provide further detail in its public description of those conduct issues.

The NFF said it intends to seek backing from other major national federations in order to strengthen the challenge. While Norway represents a single voting bloc in FIFA structures, the federation signalled it wants broader institutional support to increase pressure on FIFA’s current leadership.

European federations reassess support for FIFA leadership

The NFF’s move was presented as a step up in scrutiny of FIFA’s president at a time when some European federations are shifting their positions. The federation said its stance aligns with a wider trend of European bodies withdrawing support for the current administration.

Norway was among a handful of countries that did not back Infantino’s re-election in 2023, the NFF noted. It also said several European federations have recently rescinded their endorsements, adding to the sense of changing alliances inside the sport’s governance landscape.

Uncertainty ahead of the next election cycle

The NFF said the outcome of its initiative could affect the stability of FIFA’s leadership ahead of the upcoming presidential election cycle. The federation framed its actions as part of a push for change it believes would enable future cooperation and a new direction for global football’s governing body.

For now, the immediate impact remains unclear, including how many federations will publicly support the Norwegian position and how FIFA’s internal processes will respond to the planned ethics submission.

Implications

Country Impact: For Norway, the NFF’s stance places the federation at the centre of an organised challenge to FIFA’s current leadership. It also commits the NFF to pursuing formal governance channels, including an ethics committee submission.

Industry Impact: For international football governance, the resignation demand and planned ethics complaint raise the stakes around leadership accountability and internal oversight. The NFF also signalled it will try to build a coalition among major national federations.

Market Impact: The NFF linked its action to the failure of an attempt to sell World Cup stakes to private investors, underscoring the sensitivity of commercial structures around marquee tournaments. The broader effect on investment interest is uncertain, but the dispute highlights governance risk tied to major football assets.