– It will be noticed internationally – VG

Thursday’s digital annual meeting of the country’s most powerful soccer club left no room for doubt: 202 Rosenborg members voted in favor of the club to actively support a boycott, and only 46 opposed.

Thus, the junta, led by Ivar Koteng, suffered a prestigious defeat. The board announced in the annual report beforehand that they themselves did not want to participate in a boycott, for which they received criticism from the digital tribune before the vote. None of the members who spoke were on the same page with Koteng and his board.

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The decision that was voted on at the annual meeting is that Rosenborg will actively support a boycott of the controversial World Cup in 2022 in the Football Parliament, the highest body in Norwegian football, or “annual meeting” if wants. It will be organized on March 14, and NFF General Secretary Pål Bjerketvedt informs VG on Thursday evening that within the deadline there were no proposals on Norway’s role in the Qatar World Cup to the football parliament. of 2021.

But the laws of the Norwegian Football Association allow a proposal to be brought to the attention of delegates when parliament is established, if it does not apply to changes in the rules.

If the Qatar World Cup does not become an issue in parliament in a week and a half, Rosenborg, through Thursday’s decision, pledged in any case to submit a proposal to the 2022 parliament to boycott.

– It’s a difficult case. Can not say that one or the other better. In principle, RBK is in favor of openness, we are of the influence, and that this way it can be possible to make the world a better place. The annual meeting meant something else and we just have to relate to the annual meeting. It is not difficult to understand the arguments on the other side, board chairman Ivar Koteng tells VG.

It was Tromsø and his former national team player Tom Høgli who started the “Qatar movement” in Norwegian football by first proposing that the Norwegian Football Association boycott the controversial championship. Following the Rosenborg members’ relegation victory on Thursday, Høgli announces the following:

– I have full respect for the different processes of all clubs. But for Rosenborg, which is such a big club, to land on this decision, it will be noticed internationally, says the former FC Copenhagen and Club Brugge pro with 49 caps.

Koteng in Rosenborg doesn’t seem so convinced that the RBK name, brand and power have a say in this matter:

– When this happens for the first time, you have to wait for many great clubs and countries to get involved, for it to have an effect. But this may have a small meaning. We are good at skiing and not so good at football, sadly, the RBK coach replies.

– Is it an indication that you don’t think this is of particular importance?

– Unfortunately, I don’t think so. But I hope who has something to say.

– Is this a defeat for the RBK board?

– Probably a typical journalistic angle. We doubt what we wanted to say, so I don’t know if it felt like a violent defeat. But of course we would like the annual meeting to be the same as us, admits Ivar Koteng.

During the annual meeting, the chairman of the board explained that the board was not sure and therefore doubted his opinion, among other things, following the position of the Norwegian Football Association and the general foreign policy of Norway. Board member Karen Espelund, with a long career as a leader in international soccer, made the same point. Without seemingly changing the clear desire of the Rosenborg members.

– Do you think NFF can change positions when RBK can?

– Hard to say. I have not understood what the consequences will be for the NFF to say no to Qatar, other than of course that Norway will not play there if we qualify and boycott, says Ivar Koteng.

The proposal was recorded by the trio of members Steinar Leirvik, Jo Erik Øverby and Kenneth Kjelsnes, all names profiled in the Rosenborg fan community. Kjelsnes, a former Kjernen spokesperson, presented the proposal at the annual digital meeting.

– I am proud of an annual meeting that was aware of its responsibility and was in favor of adopting the proposals presented, says Jo Erik Øverby.

Following Tromsø’s lead, Strømsgodset, Viking, Brann and Odd have also reached the same position, while other clubs such as Rosenborg have done so and submitted it for consideration at the annual meeting. The Athletic website also wrote about the nascent Norwegian uprising against the 2022 World Cup.

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