FIFA has imposed fines on the Norwegian and Italian football federations after fan disturbances disrupted World Cup qualifying matches against Israel last month, the governing body announced on Thursday.
According to FIFA’s disciplinary statement, both federations were penalized for incidents that occurred during the presentation of Israel’s national anthem. Spectators invaded the pitch and clashed with security officials in both games, which were played in Oslo and Udine.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) was fined 12,500 Swiss francs ($15,500), while the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) received a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs ($12,400). FIFA said the sanctions were part of a broader review of disciplinary cases from recent World Cup qualifiers.
“The man on the field during Norway’s 5–0 win over Israel has often interrupted international soccer matches over the last 20 years, including at the men’s World Cup finals tournament,” FIFA said in its statement. The organization noted that the repeated nature of such intrusions contributed to the severity of the penalties.
In both fixtures, moments of disruption occurred shortly after the playing of Israel’s anthem, with fans breaching security barriers and running onto the field. Security staff responded swiftly, but the interruptions delayed the start of play and caused visible tension in the stadiums.
FIFA emphasized that the charges did not relate to the display of Palestinian flags or political chants, which were also reported during the matches. Instead, the fines specifically addressed the breakdown of security and interruptions to the official proceedings.
The governing body reiterated its commitment to maintaining order and respect during international competitions, particularly during pre-match ceremonies that involve national symbols. FIFA’s disciplinary code allows for fines and additional sanctions against federations whose supporters engage in disruptive or unsafe behavior.
Both Norway and Italy have yet to release official responses to the ruling. However, domestic sports media in both countries have highlighted concerns about growing political expressions at international football matches and their potential to attract further disciplinary scrutiny.
The incidents come amid heightened global tensions surrounding the Israel–Palestine conflict, which has frequently spilled over into sporting arenas in recent years. FIFA, like other international sports bodies, has repeatedly stated that political demonstrations have no place on the field.
With the fines now imposed, FIFA’s disciplinary committee is expected to continue monitoring crowd behavior at future qualifiers to prevent similar disruptions. The organization’s latest disciplinary report, published late Thursday, outlines several other sanctions issued against federations for crowd misconduct during the same qualification period.