Having served as president of the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) since 2022, Klaveness is committed to change in the global game and believes leaders must be ready to protect the fundamental values of the European sports model.
Klaveness mentioned, “”We must be grounded in knowledge and dialogue, but we also need to be vigilant because fundamental values are at stake. This isn’t merely a media story. The European sports model is now under greater pressure than it has ever been. To preserve that democratic aspect of sports, we must be prepared to advocate for it, discuss it, and exert our influence.”
The Norwegian has been vocal about human rights and the integrity of bidding processes, particularly concerning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the upcoming 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia. In late 2024, following Norway’s World Cup qualifying draw with Israel, she also spoke out on the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
“”It’s difficult for us beyond the purely sporting aspect. None of us can remain indifferent to the disproportionate attacks that Israel has subjected the civilian population in Gaza to.””
Klaveness has also had to address the misinterpretation of her positions on boycotts, clarifying that the NFF wanted to participate in, not boycott, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, despite not qualifying. While they have played and will continue to play against Israel, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t fight for their core values.
Unequal game
Klaveness was the first woman to lead the NFF and sought to make history again by winning a non-reserved seat on the UEFA Executive Committee. Despite coming tenth in a field of predominantly male candidates in 2023, she will join Laura McAllister as one of only two women on the committee, following a recent rule change.
Klaveness wants football to clarify its vision for governance and improve its understanding and support for women’s football.
“”It’s also about competence. We’ve had many men representing football on different boards, and most of those — over 90% — come from men’s football, not women’s side.” ”
More European women’s leagues needed
Klaveness has highlighted that the demands on women are different from those on men, referring to differences in puberty and pregnancy. She believes a pressing issue is ensuring that elite women’s football does not detach itself from the rest of the sport.
“”We need to really understand what we must do at the levels below the top four leagues to prevent the elite from moving away from the grassroots. We need more professional leagues so that girls in all countries can dream of having a career as leaders, coaches, or players.”
The interview with Lise Klaveness was conducted by Dana Sumlaji for DW.
