Norwegian Football Federation Urges Gianni Infantino to Resign, However
August 8, 2026 ·
The Norwegian Football Federation is urging Gianni Infantino to step down over his controversial plans, while Mexico and Conmebol have expressed support for him.
Norwegian Football Federation Urges Gianni Infantino to Resign, However
According to Bbc.
Background
Gianni Infantino, currently FIFA president, faces major challenges to his leadership following the latest controversy over plans to sell World Cup shares. Lise Klaveness, president of the NFF, highlighted that the institution's trust in Infantino has declined, and this could impact international cooperation in football. Meanwhile, support from Mexico and Conmebol shows that not all federations agree with the criticism aimed at Infantino.
Why this is important
The Norwegian Football Federation's call for Gianni Infantino to step down reflects deep dissatisfaction with his leadership at FIFA. The move shows that there are serious concerns about stability and trust within the international football organisation, especially after its controversial plans to sell World Cup shares. The support of Mexico and Conmebol for Infantino adds a political dimension to the situation, exposing divisions among world football federations.
Main Points
- Norwegian Football Federation Urges Gianni Infantino to Resign, However.
- The Norwegian Football Federation urges Gianni Infantino to step down over his controversial plans, while Mexico and Conmebol express support for him.
- Gianni Infantino: Norway calls for Fifa president to resign but Mexico and Conmebol chief show support - BBC Sport.
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign after plans to sell World Cup shares to private investors were scrapped. The call is a step further than that of the football federations of England, Wales, Croatia and Albania which have withdrawn support for Infantino without explicitly calling on him to step down.
NFF president Lise Klaveness stated on Friday, "He [Infantino] does not have the institutional confidence necessary to lead FIFA stably in the times we face today. There is no turning back for Gianni Infantino. International football cooperation is deeply problematic, and we must have a reason to come together now. We want to ask the FIFA president to step down now. We will see which countries will join if that becomes the strategy of the UEFA board. We will not ask for an extraordinary meeting [of the UEFA board], we will ask him to step down in our dialogue with FIFA."
Klaveness, who is a licensed attorney, also addressed concerns that the NFF had expressed to FIFA during his tenure. Among the concerns are questions over the tournament's host designation, FIFA's peace award given to US President Donald Trump in December, as well as the lifting of a ban on American striker Folarin Balogun during the last World Cup following a call from Trump.
At the same time, Mexico's soccer federation has expressed its support for Infantino and dissociated itself from regional governing body Concacaf which called for a thorough evaluation of his leadership after the controversial proposal was dropped. In a statement, the FMF [Mexican Football Federation] supports president Infantino's leadership in continuing to promote the development of football through strengthening institutions.
Meanwhile, Conmebol, which is the governing body for football in South America, expressed concern about unilateral actions being taken without dialogue or institutional mechanisms being provided to handle situations like this.
Conmebol President, Alejandro Dominguez, confirmed his support for Infantino while attending the inauguration of Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella. Dominguez praised Infantino's record and called the 2026 World Cup a "huge success".
Regarding the upcoming FIFA presidential election, Dominguez said, "We have a very firm and clear position to support the institution. If there are other candidates who want to run, we are in the election process, I think it is legitimate for people to come forward, submit candidacy, and propose an election contest, which could be very healthy for football."
Meanwhile, the Argentine football federation, which is the 2026 World Cup runner-up, praised Infantino for admitting and apologizing for his mistake. They described Infantino's decade-long tenure as "focused on the development of football worldwide and the strength of the institution based on a clear, stable and transparent governance model".
Infantino has the full support of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), but faces resistance from European football's governing body, UEFA and Concacaf. European teams may still boycott the World Cup, as UEFA says its conditions are not met, even though Infantino's plans have been scrapped. UEFA have stated that they have lost confidence in Infantino, calling the FFE proposal a "dirty and non-transparent deal".
In terms of the upcoming FIFA presidential elections scheduled for March, Infantino hopes to be re-elected for a fourth term. However, UEFA and its opponents will have to find a candidate to take on Infantino. The deadline to submit names, along with at least five letters of support from member federations, is November 18. Elections will take place at the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco on March 18. If two candidates run, a simple majority of the 211 member federations is needed to win. If there are three or more candidates, 75% of the vote is needed to win outright. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes will be removed and voting will be held again until only two candidates remain. Thus, Infantino has seven months to strengthen his support base.
What happened next
Norway's decision to ask Infantino to step down could trigger a reaction from other football federations, especially in Europe, who may consider their position on the FIFA president. If more countries join this call, FIFA may face greater pressure to make a change in leadership. Meanwhile, Infantino will likely try to maintain his position by seeking support from countries that still support him, such as Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Gianni Infantino?
The Norwegian Football Federation asked Gianni Infantino to step down after his plans to sell World Cup shares to private investors were scrapped.
Who confirmed support for Gianni Infantino?
The Mexican Football Federation expressed its support for Gianni Infantino.
Why is the Norwegian Football Federation now asking Infantino to resign?
Lise Klaveness, President of the NFF, stated that Infantino does not have the institutional confidence necessary to lead FIFA stably in these difficult times.
What changes is proposed by the Norwegian Football Federation?
The NFF called on Gianni Infantino to step down in their dialogue with FIFA, without requesting an extraordinary meeting of the UEFA board.
What concerns did the NFF raise with FIFA?
The NFF expressed concerns regarding the tournament's host designation, FIFA's peace award to Donald Trump and the lifting of the ban on Folarin Balogun.