With just six weeks to go until the World Cup, FIFA is facing sharp criticism for allegedly politicizing football and undermining the sport's credibility as a force for good.

Norwegian Football Association (NFF) President Lise Klaveness has urged FIFA to scrap its peace prize, arguing that such awards should be left to the Nobel Institute in Oslo to avoid political entanglements.

The controversy stems from FIFA's decision to award its inaugural peace prize to US President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in December. Critics view the prize as a consolation for Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, and whose country will co-host the 2026 World Cup.

Klaveness stated that the NFF board will write a letter supporting an investigation by the nonprofit FairSquare, which alleges that FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the organization may have breached ethical guidelines on political impartiality. She called for a transparent process and timeline.

Australian midfielder Jackson Irvine accused FIFA of making a mockery of its own Human Rights Policy, pointing to US military strikes on Venezuela and joint attacks with Israel on Iran after the prize was awarded. He argued that such decisions undermine football's role as a global force for positive change.

FIFA published its first Human Rights Policy in 2017, but rights groups say the regime needs to do more to press the US to address risks of human rights abuses for athletes, fans, and workers, citing the Trump administration's hardline immigration crackdown and deportation drive.

Source: www.aljazeera.com