New will be the piano to be a Uefat top: « Not for the need for power »
Lise Klavenness was elected chairman of the Norwegian Football Association in the spring of 2022. She expresses it herself as being chosen on a kind of « international strategy » – that Norway would become a more active football voice again.
A year later, she made an attempt to become the first female union chairman to be elected to the European Football Association Uefa’s leadership. Plaveness could have chosen the chair that was weighted for a female member, but instead chose to campaign against ten counter -candidates – All men – about seven vacant items.
She did so with the knowledge that there would probably be no place, and it wasn’t either.
When that on Thursday Being time for Uefakongress again makes Klaveness another attempt. Now the aim is at a female quota site, and the chances are good. She is the only candidate.
But was it obvious to set up again?
– Actually both yes and no.
With the knowledge that it would probably not go the way in 2023, the plan was to come in next time, says Klavenness.
– So it was a matter of course for the board and for the professional Lise. But for my own part, I obviously had to feel that I wanted to do it. There must be a hunger to learn and want to influence, and may also receive criticism from the outside.
She continues:
– That’s how it is to influence. If you want to stand outside and scream, you have to stand outside and scream. But if you want to come in, then you have to have room to make mistakes and learn from it. Trust your own agenda and motivation.
– So I’ve taken this many turns.
Lise Klaveness says she wants to Promote the interests of football. Not to forget that the sport itself survived for over a hundred years and is the largest in the world. She believes that a strength is that she worked with men’s and women’s soccer in parallel.
But there are also other expectations. The thing about the fact that Klavenness is not really like other heavy football tops.
It began in many ways with the talk of the World Cup in Qatar at a Fifa Congress in Doha And there are more examples: Klavenness ways of talking about the war in Gaza (Norway was drawn against Israel in the World Cup qualifier), and Norway’s protests at the distribution of the World Cup organization for 2030 and 2034 And at re -election of FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Now she wants to do this, says Lise Klaveness.
– But if my own covenant had not wanted it, I would not have. It is not something I push through for the sake of my own power. On the contrary.
– Freedom would have been nice to have, as well. But I am motivated to go into the dilemma.
Friction must have to be okay, Has in many ways been the message from Norway. A little higher in the ceiling, a little more space to get difficult things.
Can we with this expect more friction in UEFA in the future?
– It’s not a goal.
– I myself mean as a leader that it is extremely important to talk through things properly before making a decision. There will always be friction. That’s how I work on my board. There is nothing dangerous about it.
But she also knows that she will now have to adapt, says Klavenness.
– I can’t just demand that it be that way elsewhere.
– So we’ll see. I have to experience it. But I think that both (chairman) Ceferin and Uefa’s board feel good enough to know that I will at least try to work for issues to be discussed, and that the dilemma will not be easier by not talking about.
She continues:
– I want to try to work to have an open dialogue about things.
– I think there is a value in it. I’ve lived my life like that.
Read more:
Lise Klavenness: « It may be a new start for Norway and Sweden »
Alone to ten men: « A change is possible »
