Israeli fury over Norwegian FA pledge to donate funds from 2026 qualifier to Gaza relief agencies

   The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has announced it will donate profits from its upcoming World Cup qualifier against Israel to emergency relief efforts in Gaza.

NFF president Lise Klaveness confirmed the decision as part of a statement condemning “humanitarian suffering” and “disproportionate attacks” in the region.

The Israelis hit back at the Norwegians just 24 hours after their announcement warning against raising money for “terrorist organisation”.

The Israel Football Association (IFA) told the Daily Telegraph that “it would be nice” if Norway also condemned the October 7 massacre by Hamas.

The IFA said in a statement: “We do not usually advise associations regarding the use of match revenue, even if it is obtained thanks to a match against our proud national team, but we will deviate from our custom this time: it would be nice if some of the amount were directed to try to finding a condemnation by the Norwegian FA of the October 7 massacre that claimed the lives of hundreds of Israeli citizens and children, or action in favour of the release of 50 hostages – and please, make sure that the money is not transferred to terrorist organisations or to whale hunting”.

Equating Gazan relief efforts to Norwegian whale hunting is a particularly insensitive analogy that will only infuriate Palestinians, relief agencies and those looking to provide support even further.

Klaveness (pictured), a former Norway international player and lawyer, has become one of European football’s most outspoken football administrators on human rights. She previously criticised FIFA over World Cup hosting rights awarded to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and last year described Norway’s fixtures with Israel as “difficult for us” given the political backdrop.

Norway and Israel met earlier this year, with the Norwegians winning 4-2 away. Their return match in Oslo is set for October, with ticket sales opening next week. The NFF confirmed that all profits from the game would be directed to humanitarian organisations providing on-the-ground assistance in Gaza.

“Neither we nor other organisations can have an indifferent attitude to the humanitarian suffering and the disproportionate attacks that the civilian population in Gaza has been subjected to for a long time,” said Klaveness.

“Israel is part of FIFA’s and UEFA’s competitions and we must deal with that. But we want to give the profits to a humanitarian organisation that saves lives in Gaza every day.”

The NFF also stressed that security planning is being tightened to ensure the Oslo fixture passes safely for players and fans alike.

UEFA rules prohibit political messages in stadiums, but the Norwegian federation is confident the initiative does not breach regulations. That position comes amid wider debate, with UEFA itself drawing attention last week after displaying a ‘Stop Killing Children – Stop Killing Civilians’ banner ahead of the Super Cup.

Earlier this year, Norwegian club Bodo Glimt announced it was donating ticket revenues from its UEFA Europa League game against Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv for humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“Glimt cannot, and will not, be unaffected by the suffering and violations of international law that are taking place in other parts of the world,” read a club statement on Saturday.

“We will donate all the ordinary ticket revenues from the home game against Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Red Cross and earmark aid work in the Gaza Strip. This amounts to NOK 735,000 ($65,000) – and is donated by all of us.”