– I am actually shocked that the supporters choose to do this, because they have no control. That’s what Kristoffer Vatshaug, leader of the Norwegian Athletes’ Central Organization (Niso), says on news’s Dagsnytt 18 broadcast on Wednesday. In other words, he is strongly against the latest inventions from Norwegian supporters who have shown their dissatisfaction with video refereeing in Norwegian football. – We have a good understanding that the supporters react and we support them a long way. We are very critical of the way it is reacted. We can’t have it that way. Nothing should be thrown into Norwegian arenas – period, says Vatshaug. Recently, a number of elite league clubs have stepped up their protests against VAR, which was introduced in the Eliteserien before the 2023 season. Supporters in a number of clubs have recently thrown objects onto the pitch to highlight their point of view on the controversial technology. In the midnight sun match between Tromsø and YMCA, shoes, bottles, cigarette boxes and a radio-controlled car were thrown onto the pitch. A bottle was also thrown at YMCA player Momodou Lion Njie. Referee Marius Lien threatened to stop the match if the throwing of objects continued. In the same round, the match between Brann and FK Haugesund was also stopped after a radio-controlled car entered the pitch, equipped with a smoke box. – No one has listened to us Vatshaug gets a response from the spokesperson for the Norwegian Supporter Alliance (NSA), Ole Kristian Sandvik. He believes VAR was introduced without a good dialogue. – No one has listened to us. We took the protests a step further and are creative, says Sandvik. VAR OPPONENTS: Ole Kristian Sandvik defends the throwing of objects at elite series arenas. Photo: Henrik Myhr Nielsen / news Nevertheless, the Niso leader is clear in his case: – The point is that on the one hand you can’t just say that we are not listened to, so we choose to do exactly what we want in Norwegian sports arenas . It’s not working. Secondly, the players don’t know what’s coming. If a tennis ball or whatever is thrown, it doesn’t matter. It should not be thrown away, says Vatshaug. Sandvik, who is also a member of the Clan in Vålerenga, believes that one must not maximize the danger of a tennis ball. – I can agree that bottles are stupid to throw away. It has greater damage potential than a tennis ball, for example. I have no problem understanding Niso on that. But at the same time, Niso must also understand why we are protesting, says Sandvik, and continues: – We have also tried to speak out in the past. It is a simple form of civil disobedience, while we are also trying to use football democracy through the clubs to abolish VAR. A radio car on the pitch caused a stop in the game in the match between Brann and Haugesund. – Simply abolishing VAR The NSA leader believes that players and managers should tolerate throwing tennis balls and believes that there is little risk of injury. – I understand that footballers want to play matches and don’t want to stop for a minute or two because you have to clean up some tennis balls. But there is symbolism in that as well, because VAR also stops the game unnecessarily, he tells news after the debate. – What will it take for you supporters to stop such actions? – The only thing is to abolish VAR. It is a stroke of the pen for the board of the NFF, says Sandvik. Regarding the criticism that came from Vatshaug, the support manager replies: – He (Vatshaug) is a very good union leader, who stands up for the rights and safety of his members. That must be expected and respected. I’m pretty sure he also agrees that a tennis ball has a fairly small risk of injury. Leader of Norwegian Top Football, Jens Haugland, is happy about supporter engagement, but he supports Niso that it is not acceptable to throw objects. – We are very concerned about broad freedom of expression. But we also very much agree that the game should be free and the pitch should be free. Throwing or driving things onto the pitch that we have no control over is breaking a boundary, says Haugland. ANSWERS: NTF chief Jens Haugland believes it is unacceptable to throw objects onto the pitch. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Praises the NFF top brass He believes he has a good dialogue with the NFF top brass on problems such as VAR. He also uses the example that pyro is now legal in Norwegian stands. Still, he admits that things can get better. – To the extent that Norwegian top football will be known in the future because we are unable to create dialogue, then I have not fulfilled the desire that I want to have in the future. We must be clear about that. That dialogue must be created through constructive good channels that are known in sport, not by throwing things or running things onto the pitch, says Haugland, who started in the NTF job a short time ago. After all the protests, news expert Carl-Erik Torp advocated that VAR could be abolished in Norway. – I certainly think so. It seems that the supporters have made up their minds, so I have faith that they will be able to stop VAR in Norway. That’s how strong their voice is. You can’t ignore it all the time, said Torp. Published 17.07.2024, at 19.23 Updated 17.07.2024, at 19.30
ttn-69
– I am shocked – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
