– I would rather pay tribute to those who were here than to think about those who were not here. Erling Moe has just celebrated NM gold after victory with Molde, but the final was not quite the setting he had dreamed of. 19,718 spectators is the lowest attendance at a men’s cup final since Ullevaal was expanded in 2014 – and in addition the track was bumpy and bad. The last time a “regular” cup final (not a rematch) had under 20,000 spectators was when Lillestrøm beat Vålerenga in 1985 in front of 18,500 spectators. Kjetil Knutsen is one person who noticed the weak public attendance. – Now we’re going to decorate the Christmas tree The Glimt manager is not surprised that the turnout at Ullevaal on Saturday was the worst since the 80s in a men’s cup final. – It’s not so strange. Now we’re going to decorate the Christmas tree… begins Knutsen, before moving on to a longer line of argument that the cup in Norway should be changed permanently. – People who talk about us having to do the way we’ve always done it. Before, the season began in May and ended in October with a cup final. Now the season is completely different. Then it will be like this, it is more difficult to fill Ullevaal on 9 December, and it is an incredible shame for what the NM has been. The NM will not be a worse product if the final takes place in May, see the final we had on 20 May with Brann and Lillestrøm. That’s how it’s supposed to be. END DEBATE: Erling Moe wants to put the cup final debate to rest once and for all. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Molde coach Erling Moe has been fed up with the entire cup final debate. His hope is that it will soon be over. – Now this discussion has gone on for a long, long time, and now it is time for leaders who are to make decisions to “step up” and make that decision, then all parties have to deal with what is decided. This is what a clear Moe tells news about the debate that has been going on for a long time about when the Norwegian cup final will be played. – The track was as good as you can expect at that time of year here. But it is a product of the time the match is played, says Moe. He makes no secret of the fact that he hopes the cup will be permanently changed to have cup finals in the spring. – I have said quite a few times that I am in favor of the May alternative, but you have to respect other people’s opinions. There is a culture of having it in this day and age, and you have to take it seriously that the audience thinks so. But it hasn’t been many years since I was at the cup final in November, and there is quite a big difference in how unstable the weather can be in Norway in December and November, says Moe. When do you want the cup final? Autumn/winter Spring/summer Don’t know Show result But he is ready to accept it, if it is decided that the cup will continue as it is today. He just wants a decision. – I don’t think it makes sense for Norwegian football for that discussion to go on for many years, and it has. Now it is time for the leaders to “step up” and take a stand, he repeats. – Which leaders are you thinking of then? – They are the ones who decide this, and as I understand it, this lies with the union. CUP MASTER: Erling Moe secured Molde’s place in Europe next season as well. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB – The decision rests with the NFF board Lise Klaveness is president of the Norwegian Football Association and heads the association’s board which will make the final decision on the cup’s future. She can promise Erling Moe that the discussion will soon come to an end. – Then Erling has not understood that it will be up for discussion at the federal parliament, and then the decision will be made after the parliament, says Klaveness to news. The NFF president says that there has been clear feedback from the league association Norsk Toppfotball (NTF), the circles, the supporters and Toppfotball Kvinner that it is desirable to have a discussion at the parliament before the NFF board makes a decision. – But the decision rests with the board. When the debate and discussion have taken place in parliament, we will make a decision after the federal parliament in March, she assures. IN PLACE: Jonas Gahr Støre, King Harald and Lise Klavenes during the men’s football cup final 2023 between Bodø/Glimt and Molde at the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB The so-called Hangeland committee proposes in its recommendation to the NFF that the final should be played in spring each year. – The board puts forward the same recommendation as the Hangeland committee because we ourselves support it, but we want to have a broad debate and have been asked to have it. We have to listen to that. Next year, the cup final will be in autumn/winter as this year, but what happens next we must decide in March, she says. – When you see the final between Molde and Glimt, with just over 19,000 in the stands, cold, snow, bad track… What does that do to the desire to change the final set-up? – I have been in this “game” longer to make assessments based on individual matches. But we set up that committee because we wanted to solve challenges, find opportunities in Norwegian top football. We have some wonderful traditions in Norwegian top football, the cup final and the NM are one of those traditions, and it moves a lot of emotions to change those traditions, says Klaveness. Spectators in the cup final since the Ullevaal expansion in 2014 2023: Final December 2023, Molde-Glimt, 19,178 spectators. 2022 (Final May 2023): Brann – Lillestrøm 2-0: 25,532 spectators 2021 (Final May 2022): Bodø/Glimt – Molde 0-1: 19,657 spectators 2020: Corona canceled 2019: Haugesund – Viking 0-1: 21,895 spectators 2018: Rosenborg – Strømsgodset 4-1: 22,182 spectators 2017: Lillestrøm – Sarpsborg 08 3-2: 25,091 spectators 2016: Kongsvinger – Rosenborg 0-4: 26,912 spectators 2015: Rosenborg – Sarpsborg 08 2-0: 26,507 spectators 2014: Molde – Odd 2 -0: 26,528 spectators – Downward trend But she believes the world around us has changed a lot, and demands that the NFF dare to think anew. – Both of these teams are going out in new games, it is not the last game of the season anymore, and we have seen a downward trend for the NM. Eventually also for the cup final. The number of spectators at the women’s final was the lowest for many years, perhaps this is what we saw today as well, even though it was a fantastic match, she says. HEAVY. A disappointed Glimt supporter had to note that there was a loss in the cup final. Photo: Bjarne Brandal / news Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen, like the Hangeland committee, is clear that he wants a final in the spring. He did not like the grass pitch the teams were served in Saturday’s cup final. – The track is the same for both teams, but we have reached 9 December and the track has been ready for replacement for at least the last ten years. It is a pitch that does not meet the standards we can expect, and we have seen that in X number of international matches as well, he says to news. – I just want us to develop Norwegian football. We talk about grass and artificial grass and that debate, but first and foremost everyone wants good pitches. I think everyone benefits from that. Then better football is played, it’s more fun to watch, and that’s what I’m interested in, nothing else, he adds. ASK FOR CHANGE: Kjetil Knutsen has great faith in a final in the spring. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB – The Hangeland committee has given its recommendation, this will be decided by the NFF board. What do you think they end up with? – I think there are some leaders who have to make a decision that is in the best interests of Norwegian football, and I am talking about Norwegian football in an international context, he says. Video for the cup broadcast 2023
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