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RULING CHAMPION REMAINS: Kristoffer Løkberg and Viking hold the King’s Cup in the 2019 final longer than normal. Photo: Fredrik Hagen
After a long decision-making process, the Norwegian Football Association decided to drop out of this year’s Norwegian men’s championship.
This is stated by the Norwegian Football Association in a press release. On the women’s side, the country’s top 20 teams (Toppserien and 1st division) will continue their annual tradition, as this year’s cup final moves to Ullevaal.
On the men’s side, it will be the first time since World War II that the Norwegian soccer championship has not been held. The oldest soccer tournament in the country dates back to 1902, but the NFF won’t find a place on the calendar in 2020.
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– Not a big surprise, but we wanted to include the full image before making a decision. 2020 is an exceptional year. We have considered an alternative cup for the best clubs, but it is not justified to do so, soccer president Terje Svendsen tells VG.
– Why did you spend so much time?
– We wanted a general assessment in which we analyzed the UEFA calendar and the infection situation. When the contagion situation has worsened, we want to give priority to the series in 2020, he responds.
The cup champion automatically gets one of the Norwegian places in the next Europa League. Competition director Nils Fisketjønn responds in this way how the participants of the next season decide in the European Cup without the National Championship.
– Not clarified as this is covered by next year’s format work, Fisketjønn informs VG.
His goal is for the NFF to consider expanding the cup in 2021.
– We want to give the cup a boost next year, for example by allowing more teams to participate in qualifying rounds, and more rounds from later rounds being added at the weekend to increase appeal and increase interest, says Svendsen in the press release.
The happy women’s clubs
NRK is the licensee of the cup. Sports director Egil Sundvor is not surprised by the result the NFF board has reached.
– We have not been involved in the decision, so we can enter into a dialogue with NFF and see what this means for us, writes Sundvor in an SMS to VG.
– Do you want to claim money back for lost rights?
– First we start a dialogue with NFF, replies the NRK sports manager
The cancellation by the men means that 30 “million cups” will be distributed to clubs and associations. According to the NFF, 13 million go to the best clubs, 8 million to the broad clubs and 8 million to the football association.
Hege Jørgensen from the Toppfotball Kvinner interest organization is happy that the NFF completes half of the NM in soccer this year.
– It is a pity that the men’s side cup cannot be completed, but it is very gratifying that also this year we can choose a women’s cup winner. We must commend the NFF for listening to clubs on this matter. The cup is important for the attention around women’s football, and it is great for us that the final is played in Ullevaal, says Hege Jørgensen.
The cup this year will therefore be for the ten Toppserien clubs and the ten from the 1st division. The tournament format has not been decided, according to Nils Fisketjønn at NFF.
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