Norway football chief: FIFA president has lost trust over private investment plans

Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), has strongly criticized FIFA's proposed plan to sell stakes in its tournaments to private investors, calling it a "very serious situation" for international football. Klaveness expressed her "clear impression" that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has now "lost a large part of the trust" among member federations.

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It is a "very serious situation" for international football, that FIFA has plans to sell a share in the federation's tournaments to private investors.

Speaking at a press conference, Klaveness revealed that during an online meeting with European Football Union (UEFA) member countries, all participants voiced strong opposition. She noted that the word "bribery" was used by some attendees, highlighting the gravity of concerns surrounding the proposed commercial venture, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

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Her "clear impression" is that FIFA President Gianni Infantino now "has lost a large part of the trust."

Klaveness emphasized that introducing external owners into the core of football is an "alien element" that should remain so. The NFF president's criticism follows a pattern of challenging FIFA's decisions; previously, the Norwegian federation filed a formal complaint regarding FIFA's Peace Prize, questioning whether Infantino and FIFA adhered to their ethical guidelines on political impartiality.

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All who spoke at the meeting said that it was unacceptable. The word "bribery" was used. Not by us, but by others.

UEFA has collectively stated that all 55 member nations are prepared to boycott FIFA tournaments if the organization does not abandon its plans for FFE. The proposed commercialization reportedly came as a surprise to most UEFA members, with very few having prior knowledge of the initiative.

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To bring external owners into the core of football is an alien element, and it should remain an alien element.