“Thick and fat and full and league gold” echoed from the Battalion – Brann’s supporters – during Sunday’s match between Brann and LSK Kvinner. The match ended 3-3 after a rousing end to the match with one goal to each of the teams in overtime. With that, Brann ends up at the top of the table in the much-discussed series part of this year’s Toppserie. Therefore, the fire supporters hailed their team as league champions, even though the playoffs have not been played yet. – They are absolutely fantastic. It’s absolutely lovely to have them here, says Fire captain Tuva Hansen to news after the match. – This is a mark from the supporters to show that they do not want play-offs, and that you are now league champions. What do you think of that attitude? – They show what they mean and they show commitment. I think it is appropriate, said Hansen. Basic games and play-offs Toppserien is the top division in Norwegian women’s football. From this year’s season, a completely new series system has been introduced: First, the teams in the series play each other twice in a basic game. The new thing is that the best teams will then play a play-off, where the winner is chosen. In other words, it is no longer the case that whoever wins the series wins gold. But the new series structure has received severe criticism. – Completely incomprehensible invention Chairman of the board Erlend Ytre-Arne Vågane in Brann’s supporters’ club The battalion calls the playoff model that has been introduced an “outing”. – We have never had play-offs in Norwegian football before. This is an invention that is completely incomprehensible, he says. He thinks it is particularly sad that the model has been introduced in women’s football. – The whole sporting interest in women’s football is increasing, and then they screw it up with this. It destroys a lot. It is a huge problem, he says. The fact that play-offs have been introduced in women’s football is nonsense, believes chairman Erlend Ytre-Arne Vågane in the Battalion. Photo: Silje Rognsvåg / news Joint statement Several supporter groups have signed a joint statement, which states that they do not recognize the play-offs as a real league competition. They believe that playoffs go against the series’ basic principle that every game counts equally. – It is therefore the team that is at the top after 28 August that gets the legitimate league gold and our tribute, the Battalion wrote on Twitter. Brann’s supporters group does not recognize the play-offs in the Toppserien. The statement is signed by several supporter clubs. Photo: Screen dump The statement is signed by the Clan (Vålerenga), Kanarifansen (Lillestrøm), Stabæk Support and Kjernen (Rosenborg). Only one in 108 players is satisfied with the league system, news’s survey shows. – Should provide better matches Play-offs in the top series were adopted at the football parliament with a large majority in 2019. Top football manager Truls Dæhli says that the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) had to take action, because women’s football had had a negative sporting development. He emphasizes that many have introduced end games around Europe. – This should result in better matches, better competition in the matches. The best clubs should meet each other more often. There was a sporting background for change, he says. – What do you think about the fire supporters honoring the winners of the basic game as winners of the Toppserien? – We are allowed to think different things about this. That they mark their opinion and choose to do it that way, they are naturally completely free to do that, says Dæhli. He doubts that the introduction of the play-offs will destroy interest in women’s football. – We will naturally evaluate. Then they will look at whether there is a need to make changes. Top football manager Truls Dæhli in the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) says that play-offs were primarily introduced in women’s football to increase the sporting quality. Photo: Lise Åserud
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Brann Kvinner is celebrated here as “series champions” – news Vestland
