Politics & Governance
Norway football federation to ask Infantino to resign
The Norwegian Football Federation will ask FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign, federation head Lise Klaveness said Friday, arguing that he no longer has the trust needed to lead world football's governing body.
“He does not have the institutional trust required to lead FIFA in a stable manner in the current climate. There is no turning back for Gianni Infantino,” Klaveness told reporters.
Infantino, FIFA president since 2016, is standing for re-election next March for a fourth and final term. He is currently the only declared candidate and must secure a majority of FIFA's 211 member votes to be re-elected. Candidates must declare by November 18.
Klaveness said Infantino could no longer unite people after what she called the “chaos” surrounding FIFA. He has come under pressure since the failure of a plan, revealed last week, to open FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.
The Norwegian federation also decided to refer three cases to FIFA's ethics committee: the aborted private-investor plan, the lifting of US player Folarin Balogun's suspension at the 2026 World Cup after an intervention by US President Donald Trump, and FIFA's awarding of a so-called Peace Prize to Trump.
The federation will also request a full review of the reforms to which Infantino had committed.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter wrote on X that Klaveness could be a possible successor to Infantino and said the time was right for a woman to lead FIFA. Klaveness told AFP: “We're not there yet,” and said the federation's focus was on issues rather than particular individuals.
Update
The Norwegian Football Federation decided to refer three cases to FIFA's ethics committee.
The cases concern the private-investor plan, the lifting of Folarin Balogun's suspension after an intervention by US President Donald Trump, and FIFA's awarding of a so-called Peace Prize to Trump.
The federation will request a full review of reforms Infantino had committed to.
Sepp Blatter suggested Lise Klaveness as a possible FIFA presidential candidate.
Klaveness said the issue was not about particular individuals and declined to discuss a possible candidacy.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 August 2026 at 10:55:26 UTC.
Update
Lise Klaveness said Infantino does not have the institutional trust required to lead FIFA in the current climate.
Infantino is standing for re-election next March for a fourth and final term.
He is currently the only declared candidate and must secure a majority of FIFA's 211 member votes.
Candidates must declare by November 18.
Infantino has faced pressure since the failure of his plan to open FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 August 2026 at 09:46:07 UTC.
Update
Norwegian Football Federation head Lise Klaveness said the federation will ask Gianni Infantino to resign.
Klaveness spoke after a meeting of the federation's governing bodies.
Infantino is standing for re-election next March.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 August 2026 at 09:32:16 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It is not stated whether FIFA's ethics committee will open proceedings on the Norwegian federation's referrals.
Klaveness did not declare herself a candidate for the FIFA presidency.
Source
AFP news report published on .