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FIFA criticizes Nobel Peace Center for canceled project

FILE - In this Friday, May 29, 2015 file photo, FIFA president Sepp Blatter after his election as President greeted by UEFA President Michel Platini, right, at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland. Blatter has been re-elected as FIFA president for a fifth term, chosen to lead world soccer despite separate U.S. and Swiss criminal investigations into corruption. The 209 FIFA member federations gave the 79-year-old Blatter another four-year term on Friday after Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan conceded defeat after losing 133-73 in the first round. (Patrick B. Kraemer/Keystone via AP, File)

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has criticized the Nobel Peace Center for lacking fair play by ending their partnership and announcing the split via the media.

FILE – In this Friday, May 29, 2015 file photo, FIFA president Sepp Blatter after his election as President greeted by UEFA President Michel Platini, right, at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland. Blatter has been re-elected as FIFA president for a fifth term, chosen to lead world soccer despite separate U.S. and Swiss criminal investigations into corruption. The 209 FIFA member federations gave the 79-year-old Blatter another four-year term on Friday after Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan conceded defeat after losing 133-73 in the first round. (Patrick B. Kraemer/Keystone via AP, File)

Football’s governing body is reluctant to accept this unilateral approach to the ‘Handshake for Peace’ project.

FIFA says this action does not embody the spirit of fair play, especially as it obstructs the promotion of the key values of peace-building and anti-discrimination.

On Monday, the Nobel center announced it would terminate the cooperation with FIFA.

No reason was given, though FIFA is implicated in corruption investigations by American and Swiss federal agencies.

Last week, Interpol suspended ties with FIFA, and the Vatican stopped a charity project with South America’s football body.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has heavily promoted the handshake gesture since the Nobel partnership began in 2012.

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