Nobel Peace Centre joins organisations distancing themselves from scandal-marred FIFA

The board decided that to terminate our involvement with FIFA

As the FIFA scandal shows no sign of abating, the Nobel Peace Center said on Monday that it had decided to end its involvement in the heavily symbolic Handshake for Peace project, which includes FIFA and the Norwegian FA. 

According to a statement, the Nobel Peace Center board decided that they will terminate their involvement with FIFA as soon as circumstances allow it.

This means that Nobel will not terminate its agreement with FIFA immediately, but that a dialogue starts about the ending of the cooperation from Nobel Peace Center.

We think the idea behind Handshake for Peace is good, and we wish that the project continue. Because of this we will enter into dialogue with The Norwegian FA and FIFA, said Erichsen executive director of the Nobel Peace Center.

The board also asks the administration to start a dialogue with the Norwegian Football Association for the Handshake for Peace initiative to continue in the future

The contract with FIFA runs until the end of 2016. The decision is to take an initiative towards FIFA with a view of terminating the Peace Centre’s role in the Handshake for Peace project. We have no wish to shut down Handshake for Peace, we just want to withdraw from the project in an orderly manner.

Handshake for Peace is the brainchild of Kjetil Siem, general secretary of the Norwegian FA. He had this idea when he was CEO of the South African Premier Soccer League.

FIFA has already lost major sponsors, including association with the United Nations.