Lise Klaveness, the president of Norway’s soccer federation, made a bold move during her early days in office last year. At FIFA’s annual congress in Qatar, she stood up and addressed important but often overlooked topics such as ethics, migrant workers’ rights, and the rights of women and gay people in soccer. She challenged FIFA to hold itself to a higher moral and ethical standard when choosing leaders and sites for major competitions. While her speech received criticism and attempts to silence her, Klaveness remains undeterred and continues to speak out.
Klaveness believes that her positions align with her federation and her country, and she will not stop advocating for change. She acknowledges that her direct approach can be confrontational, but believes it is necessary given the lack of progress in the past. Despite being told to tone down her remarks countless times, Klaveness remains popular in Norway for her transparency and honesty.
Even though Klaveness’s style has raised eyebrows among some of her allies, she stands firm in her belief that soccer needs voices that challenge the status quo. She recently ran for a place on the governing board of UEFA against male candidates, breaking convention and receiving 18 votes. She sees this as a sign that there are people within soccer who want change.
Klaveness acknowledges that soccer still has a culture of fear, which prevents officials from speaking out due to the potential consequences. However, she believes that having these difficult conversations is crucial. For example, the issue of migrant workers in Qatar remains a concern, but progress is slow. Klaveness remains determined to address these issues and set an example for other soccer leaders.
In terms of the Women’s World Cup, Klaveness is currently focused on prize money. While FIFA guaranteed a percentage of the prize money to players, some countries, like England, are withholding additional bonus payments. FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, declined to guarantee that the money would reach the players, stating that it will be paid to the federations. Klaveness believes that this payment should be obligatory and wants clarity on the matter.
Klaveness understands that her time as federation president is limited, but she will continue to speak up for change as long as she holds the role. She aims to break the traditional mold of soccer leaders and demonstrate that they can be more inclusive and family-friendly.
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