- The Norwegian Football Association (NFF) has called for Fifa to abolish its peace prize, arguing that the global football body should avoid political involvement and leave such accolades to established institutions like the Nobel Institute.
- This demand follows Fifa's decision to award its inaugural peace prize to Donald Trump in December, during the draw for the 2026 World Cup, a move widely perceived as a consolation for his repeated public statements about deserving the Nobel Peace Prize.
- NFF President Lise Klaveness stated that the prize falls outside Fifa's mandate, emphasising that such awards are inherently political and require independent juries and criteria, which Fifa lacks the resources and mandate to manage effectively.
- Ms Klaveness further elaborated on the political risks, stressing the importance for football federations to maintain an arm's-length distance from state leaders, as these prizes can challenge that distance and become highly political.
- The NFF board intends to send a letter supporting calls for an investigation into the prize's awarding, following allegations by the non-profit FairSquare that Fifa president Gianni Infantino may have breached ethical guidelines regarding political impartiality.
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