UEFA remains a man’s world! Norway’s Lise Klaveness failed to be elected to UEFA’s executive committee this Wednesday, in which she was the only woman out of 11 candidates. “This is not the end, this is the beginning. We will continue with the same strength, towards the next elections. The wave of change and modernization is unstoppable. I will not be silenced by a culture of fear,” said Klaveness in a message released by the Football Association of Norway.
The chairman of the Norwegian federation, a former international footballer, wants to continue working “for open minds” and was available to continue betting on a “broad platform” that brings together federations and fans. “We will continue to work to contribute to a stronger UEFA and a better FIFA. We will fight for the rights of small and medium-sized countries” said the Nordic official, adding: “Basic football will also be at the top of our priorities and of course we will continue to work for more equality and more investment in women’s football.”
Lise Klaveness, who took part in the 47th UEFA Congress in Lisbon, admitted that before today’s election I “talked to about 50 presidents of other European associations” and knew that the “election was going to be difficult”. “I felt a great responsibility because I was the first woman to run for this position,” admitted, acknowledging that “the campaign itself contributed to a change”.
The Norwegian, 41, has vowed to run for a leadership position at UEFA again in 2025. In Lisbon, Lise Klaveness, the first and only female candidate for a seat in this body without quota, received 18 votes of the vote. 55 members attended the organization’s 47th Congress, where President Aleksander Ceferin was unanimously re-elected by acclamation to a third term, until 2027.
The Albanian Armand Duka received the most votes of the 11 candidates with 45 votes, ahead of the Dane Jesper Moller (42), the Czech Petr Fousek, the Georgian Levan Kobiashvili and the Spaniard Luis Rubiales (all with 40), the Frenchman Philippe Diallo ( 37) and the Ukrainian Andrii Pavelko (31).
Duka, Rubiales and Pavelko were re-elected to UEFA’s executive body, which will also count on German Hans-Joachim Watzke, who was the only candidate for the two-year term, and Welsh Laura McAllister, who was unanimously elected and by acclamation before this body, taking up the quota for female representatives
Source: DN
