Norwegian football will hold “open and democratic discussions” about the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) ahead of a vote on its future in March, the president of the Norwegian Football Association has announced.
This comes after another game was halted due to protests, this time over an avalanche of Danish pastries.
The Eliteserien has been marred by fan opposition to VAR throughout the summer, with supporters throwing objects and fireworks onto the pitch.
The top-flight match between Rosenborg and Lilleström, which was played four times (the first time due to a shower of fish cakes), was abandoned on 21 July. After two minutes of bombardment, the referee stopped the match and sent the players to the changing rooms.
The match was resumed but protests intensified and tennis balls and smoke bombs were thrown onto the pitch. The referee abandoned the match after around half an hour with the score at 0-0. The match will be replayed in full later in the day behind closed doors.
The Norwegian Supporters' Association has called on fans to postpone protests, but appears to have received no response. On Monday, Vålerenga's second-tier match against Ranheim was interrupted when cakes were thrown onto the pitch and banners reading “No more VAR” were raised. Although there is no video assistant at that level, Vålerenga were in the Eliteserien in the 2023 season and are well placed for immediate promotion to the top flight.
FA president Lise Klaveness has admitted that Norwegian football has failed to take into account the opinions of fans since VAR was introduced for the 2023 season.
“We spend a lot of time meeting and listening to Norwegian fans at different levels,” said Klaveness. “We are passionate about freedom of expression in Norwegian and international football. I am honoured that in the past we have not communicated clearly enough what effective democratic channels are to engage on the issue of the future of VAR in Norwegian football.
“We will now do everything possible to respond in a positive way to the appeal of the clubs and the fans.”
A working group consisting of clubs, fans, players, coaches and referees will be set up to assess the VAR system and report back in November, before a “comprehensive and inclusive assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of VAR” is debated in the Football Parliament on 1 and 2 March next year. A vote will then be held among clubs to decide whether VAR will continue in Norway.
VAR has faced criticism in many other leagues, with Sweden's top leagues deciding in April not to implement VAR due to opposition from clubs, which have a majority interest from fans.
In May, Wolverhampton Wanderers failed to abolish VAR in the Premier League, with clubs voting 19-1 against the club's motion.
