Norway Files FIFA Ethics Complaint Over Trump Peace Prize, Demands Award Abolition

The Norwegian football federation has lodged an official complaint with FIFA's Ethics Committee regarding the Peace Prize presented to Donald Trump during the World Cup draw ceremony last December. Norway is pushing for the award's complete elimination.

Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness spoke bluntly about the controversial honour. "It has no legitimacy, and it is clearly outside FIFA's mandate," she stated in an interview with NRK. "It is a serious matter that a political award is introduced without any basis."

Her skepticism appears well-founded. FIFA never released official criteria for the prize. The selection process remains murky — Trump's name reportedly circulated as the presumed winner months before FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented him with the trophy, described as depicting hands reaching for a golden globe, during the ceremony.

Questions surrounding Infantino's neutrality

This controversy marks another instance where Infantino faces allegations of political favouritism. Earlier in February, photographs surfaced showing him wearing a red "USA" baseball cap emblazoned with "45-47" — effectively Trump campaign merchandise. While the International Olympic Committee cleared him following that incident, FIFA's Ethics Committee may adopt a different stance when confronted with a complaint from a World Cup participant holding a UEFA board position.

That distinction matters significantly. Human rights organization FairSquare has advocated for this complaint over recent weeks, but FIFA could potentially disregard a non-governmental organization. Norway's involvement changes the equation entirely. As FairSquare CEO Nick McGeehan explained: "They can dismiss a complaint when it comes from us, but when it comes from an association that also has a board member at UEFA, it's on a whole different level of seriousness."

The complaint cites Article 15 of FIFA's Code of Ethics, which mandates officials maintain political neutrality. Violations can result in fines approaching $12,730 USD and suspensions from football-related activities lasting up to two years. Whether the Ethics Committee will enforce these penalties against FIFA's current president — who praised Trump's foreign policy as "incredible" during the award ceremony — remains uncertain.

Implications for football governance

Norway ranks among the 48 nations competing at this summer's 2026 World Cup. This participation grants Klaveness substantial influence, ensuring heightened scrutiny of the matter. Other federations previously undecided about this complaint must now determine their stance on a governing body that created an undefined political prize and presented it to an active head of state.

Klaveness left no ambiguity regarding her position on the award's future. When questioned whether the prize should be abolished, she responded with a single word: "Absolutely." No qualifications, no hesitation.

Should the Ethics Committee proceed with its review, FIFA will face challenging questions — not merely concerning Trump's award, but fundamentally about who controls world football and whose interests the organization serves.