On Thursday, the Norwegian Football Association issued a press release in light of the VAR protests, the match being called off at Lerkendal and an escalation in the VAR debate. Among other things, they came up with an explanation of the way forward for the controversial technology. And they promised that this will be a topic at the Football Parliament in March next year. – It is natural that the Football Parliament discusses and takes a decision on how VAR should be handled in Norwegian football going forward, the NFF wrote in the press release. Towards NFF measures Nevertheless, there are several supporter groups who are not satisfied with the association’s handling. One thing in particular causes several supporter leaders news has spoken to to react. Because if VAR is to be discontinued, it will probably have to be done via the Football Parliament. All Norwegian clubs under the NFF umbrella can apply there. As a result, hundreds of clubs will probably submit. When VAR was adopted in 2021, it was adopted at an NFF board meeting following a recommendation from Norwegian Top Football (NTF). However, NTF is only owned by the 32 clubs in the Eliteserien and 1st division. – They insinuate that it will be at the Football Parliament. In isolation, it’s a nice thing, but it becomes unmusical. Now all of a sudden the whole football pyramid has to decide. For 95 percent of the clubs, VAR does not concern them at all, says Mads Skaugen. He is a spokesperson for the J-Field in Bodø/Glimt and has also researched supporter culture for Nord University. REACTS: Mads Skaugen goes hard against the Norwegian Football Association. Photo: Jan Erik Andreassen Skaugen has been heavily involved in the protests of recent weeks. – I notice that they don’t lie flat. What they say about VAR is unclear, and the statement is mostly about how bad it is that things are thrown (into the pitch, journ.anm), he says and continues: – There is a lack of understanding of democracy at the top of the association, and that is a bit disappointing. It is typical NFF rhetoric, thunders the Glimt supporter. Klaveness: – Not a case for a closed boardroom Football president Lise Klaveness said in Thursday’s press release that “we are passionate about there being great freedom of expression in Norwegian and international football”. – I am humbled that in the past we may not have communicated clearly enough what are effective democratic channels for getting involved in the question of VAR’s future in Norwegian football, Klaveness said on Thursday. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB In front of news, she gives a longer answer to the criticism that has come in the wake of the press release. There she argues that it is necessary to raise the VAR case to judicial review. – The debate, commitment and actions we have seen around VAR in Norwegian football recently make it necessary to raise the VAR issue before Norwegian football’s highest body, the Confederation. This is no longer a matter for a closed boardroom, she says. – The intention in doing this is precisely to set up a transparent and involving process that challenges us all. Based on the report from the working group and on the recommendation from the top clubs via NTF, the Confederation Board will present its own recommendation to the parliament, she says further. See the full answer to Klaveness in the fact box below: Here is the full answer to Lise Klaveness We have gained a lot of experience about VAR in Norwegian and international football in recent years. It will therefore now be useful to have an up-to-date investigation and assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of VAR – and especially in Norwegian football. Against this background, the NFF, NISO, the Coaches’ Association, the NTF and the top clubs have now agreed to set up a broadly composed working group with an external leader who will shed light on the experiences with VAR – both pluses and minuses. Among other things seen from the supporter and club perspectives. Such an open and inclusive investigation is something many supporters have called for. We will return to who will sit in the working group in the press meeting in week 32/33, but it will be broadly composed to ensure complementary expertise and legitimacy. The investigation of the working group will be published in its entirety, and the purpose is to offer a good basis for discussion for all parties involved before a decision is made at the parliament in March 2025. It is football democracy in practice. It was the NFF’s confederation board that introduced VAR in Norwegian football in 2021 after the NFF’s administration had consulted the top clubs in the NTF on the issue. At the time, only one club was against such an introduction (LSK). It was within the confederation’s board’s mandate to make such a decision, but in retrospect many supporters have advocated that the involvement should have been wider before a decision was made. The debate, commitment and actions we have seen around VAR in Norwegian football recently make it necessary to raise the VAR issue before Norwegian football’s highest body, the Confederation. This is no longer a matter for a closed boardroom. The intention in doing this is precisely to set up a transparent and involving process that challenges us all. Based on the report from the working group and the recommendation from the top clubs via NTF, the Confederation Board will present its own recommendation to the parliament. The clubs have plenty of time to ensure democratic discussion and anchoring in their own club forums before this. It is of course the case that the position from the top clubs and NTF will weigh heavily on the Confederation Board’s assessment towards the parliament. But there are also other considerations that must be emphasised, for example the referee’s perspective where VAR is highlighted as an important tool for the referees. We are planning a joint press conference with Norwegian Top Football and NISO in week 32 or 33. In the meantime, we have direct dialogue with many clubs and supporters to create confidence in the process we have set up. We only have one intention, and that is to set up an open and involving process that should be experienced as real and useful both for people who are in favor of VAR and those who are dissatisfied – and the many who are a bit in between. – Basically air The supporters will anyway according to the plan get their wish for a VAR rematch. The football meeting will take place on 1 and 2 March. – It will be the case that the Football Parliament is before the annual meetings of the clubs and then you will not bring it up again. There are probably several clubs that would actually be in favor of abolishing VAR. It’s trickery and fake faxing, says Skaugen. Klaveness, for his part, calls it “football democracy in practice” and refers to the working group which will now look at the advantages and disadvantages of VAR. – The investigation of the working group will be published in its entirety, and the purpose is to offer a good basis for discussion for all parties involved before a decision is made at the parliament in March 2025. It is football democracy in practice, she says. STOPPED MATCH: The match between Lillestrøm and Rosenborg at Lerkendal was interrupted after a number of VAR protests. Photo: Ole Martin Wold / NTB It is also the confederation’s board itself that puts the question of how VAR should be handled on the agenda. – It is basically air and promises nothing but a series of caveats and delaying elements and processes. It is one thing that the credibility of the union and NTF has worn thin over a long time, but when they do not address what we are really asking about and only start a sham process, people become furious, says Bjørnar Posse Sandboe, chairman of Stabæk Support, to news. The supporters’ club, together with the club, has been heavily involved in the VAR issue. He is now unsure of what is happening, because he believes several questions remain unanswered. – The NFF and NTF have claimed throughout that VAR was introduced in a democratic way. It was also claimed in the tender document for the media agreement that VAR was adopted at the Norwegian Parliament in 2020. But it was only an “investigation” of VAR that was adopted there, and it does not exist, says Sandboe. NTF’s new director Jens Haugland tells news that it is certainly debatable whether the process has been democratic enough. – I imagine that together with the clubs we will put together a plan (toward the Football Parliament, journal note) so that the clubs can carry out their democratic processes. Jens Haugland in NTF believes that most things are in place for a good democratic process regarding the future of VAR in Norwegian football. Photo: Wordup Projects/Uno-X At least it’s not “deceit and faking”, says Haugland, – It has been an attempt to run a clear democratic race. The clubs are free to resolve this by moving annual meetings or holding extraordinary annual meetings. There is still a considerable period of time between now and March. – There is no desire to put anyone in a difficult situation. I think this is an attempt to show that. Should investigate the advantages and disadvantages Vålerenga’s supporter group, the Clan, is somewhat more reserved about the NFF’s VAR plan. – For us it is unchanged, we still want to get rid of VAR. And then we’ll see what the way forward is, but they’ve reached out, but I wish it was even more extended. That’s kind of where we are, says Klanen spokesman Sebastian Hytten. – Do you believe that this will abolish VAR? – I believe that it will be abolished and that is our goal. Bjørna’s Posse Sandboe. Photo: Stabæk football Vålerenga has requested an owners’ meeting in Norwegian Top Football (NTF), where there could be a rematch over VAR. NTF director Haugland tells news that it is the majority that decides the nomination, and that the NFF will receive a clear message from them. – Then our mandate is to state clearly that this is our wish. We are a link between the clubs and the NFF and must be a clear leader. Then the NFF must take note of it, Haugland told news earlier this week. news has also been in contact with a number of supporter clubs in the top two divisions about possible protests at the weekend. J-Feltet says they will not mark away during YMCA-Bodø/Glimt. The others did not want to comment on possible protests against VAR. Published 27/07/2024, at 14.28
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