Norway FA president Lise Klaveness has urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign, citing a loss of trust following FIFA’s withdrawn World Cup investment proposal. The governance dispute has intensified pressure on FIFA as UEFA continues demanding transparency and meaningful institutional reforms.
Pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino has intensified after Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness publicly called for his resignation, arguing that the FIFA chief has lost the confidence required to lead world football during a period of growing governance concerns.
Speaking after the Norwegian Football Federation’s monthly board meeting, Klaveness stated that FIFA’s recent handling of its controversial commercial investment proposal had significantly damaged trust between the governing body and its member associations. According to her, the situation has reached a point where fresh leadership is necessary to restore confidence and strengthen FIFA’s credibility on the global stage.
Addressing reporters, Klaveness said that Infantino no longer possesses the institutional trust needed to guide FIFA through its current challenges. She emphasized that the international football community is facing a difficult period and believes the organization requires new leadership to rebuild confidence among stakeholders.
The latest criticism follows FIFA’s decision to withdraw its proposed investment plan involving the sale of a minority stake in the commercial rights linked to the FIFA World Cup. The proposal sparked widespread opposition from several football associations and confederations, particularly across Europe, where concerns were raised regarding governance standards, transparency, and the long-term control of football’s premier global tournament.
Many football administrators argued that such a significant commercial decision required broader consultation with member associations before being introduced. Critics maintained that greater transparency was essential to ensure the interests of the global football community remained protected.
Klaveness noted that the Norwegian federation is in regular discussions with UEFA and other national football associations regarding the issue. While Norway is not seeking an extraordinary UEFA Executive Committee meeting at this stage, she expressed hope that more UEFA member associations would formally support its position in the coming weeks.
According to Klaveness, the Norwegian federation intends to communicate directly with FIFA and officially request that Infantino step down from his position. She stressed that Norway’s concerns are not based solely on the recent investment controversy but reflect broader governance issues that the federation has repeatedly highlighted over the past several years.
Since becoming president of the Norwegian Football Federation in 2022, Klaveness has been one of the most vocal advocates for greater transparency, accountability, and stronger governance within international football. Her latest remarks continue that stance, emphasizing the importance of institutional trust in maintaining FIFA’s global leadership.
UEFA has also taken a firm position on the matter, stating that it no longer has confidence in the FIFA president. Europe’s governing football body criticized FIFA for failing to adequately consult member associations before unveiling the investment proposal, describing the process as lacking sufficient transparency and engagement.
Although FIFA later withdrew the proposal and Infantino issued an apology to all 211 member associations, UEFA has maintained that the incident exposed deeper structural governance problems within the organization. European football officials have continued to call for meaningful reforms aimed at improving decision-making processes and strengthening accountability.
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The growing criticism from Norway adds further pressure on FIFA at a time when the organization is seeking to rebuild trust among its stakeholders. Whether additional national associations join Norway’s call remains uncertain, but the issue is expected to remain a significant topic of discussion within international football in the coming months.
As debates over governance, transparency, and institutional accountability continue, FIFA faces increasing scrutiny from member associations determined to ensure that future decisions affecting the global game are made through broader consultation and stronger democratic processes.
