Why Does Norway Want FIFA To Sanction Israel: Details Here

Football has yet been struck by another row in the run up to the FIFA World Cup 2026. 

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has called on FIFA to probe Israel over their human rights violations. The development came after Norway was drawn in a World Cup qualifier group with Israel and will face off against them on March 25.

Norway Football Takes A Stand

NFF President Lise Klaveness concurred with the stand of the Norwegian government which has asked for the war on Gaza by Israel to come to a complete stop. She said that the NFF was advocating FIFA to sanction Israel.

Klaveness was a former footballer and the first woman to be ever elected as the football president of Norway’s association. In 2022, took a stand against the World Cup being held in Qatar and also FIFA’s intent at the time to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia.

When FIFA awarded the World Cup hosting rights to the Saudi Arabia last week, Norway raised eyebrows in the selection procedure employed by the governing body. And now with Israel drawn in the same group as Norway, the NFF came out with a statement.

“The draw is difficult for us, beyond the purely sporting aspect. None of us can remain indifferent to the disproportionate attacks that Israel has inflicted on the civilian population of Gaza over a long period of time,” said a statement from Klaveness.

“The Norwegian Football Association stands with the Norwegian government in its demand for an immediate end to the disproportionate attacks on innocent civilians in Gaza,” she added.

Norway is one of the only three European countries that recognize Palestine as a country (besides Spain, Ireland). The Norwegian Football Federation also cited these close ties and said that it made efforts with Palestine football in the past and helped create infrastructure in the state for football to grow.

The Palestine’s Cause

In October, there were reports that the Palestine Football Association had asked FIFA to suspend Israeli football on account of war in Gaza. FIFA at the time said that they would launch investigations into the allegations made by the PFA.

“We are closer to the region and the Palestinian Football Federation than most other European federations, as we have worked on the ground for over ten years, educating female football coaches and creating football activities for children in schools and refugee camps,” Klaveness said.

FIFA has said that it will ask its committees to investigate whether sanctions on Israel are necessary. However, there has been no word from the footballing body on if and when any action will be taken.

Also Read: Norway’s Greatest Football Goal Scorers: A Legacy of Excellence