Anna 
Lise Klaveness is calling on football’s leadership to step up in a time of uncertainty. On Thursday, the former Norway international will officially become the second woman on UEFA’s Executive Committee (ExCo), following a rule change that doubled the number of seats reserved for female members.
Since becoming president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) in 2022, Klaveness has been an outspoken advocate for transparency, human rights, and the protection of European football’s traditional model.
“We need to be knowledge-based, dialogue-based, and aware that we are in a critical moment where fundamental values are truly at stake,” Klaveness told DW. “If we want to maintain democracy in sports, we must be prepared to defend it.”
Advocacy for Human Rights and Fair Governance
Klaveness has not shied away from addressing controversial topics. She has spoken out against human rights violations in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and raised concerns about the bidding process for the 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Her criticism extended to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, following Norway’s World Cup qualifying draw with Israel in December 2024. “None of us can remain indifferent to the disproportionate attacks that Israel has subjected the civilian population in Gaza to,” she stated at the time.
Her remarks have since led to ongoing clarifications regarding her position and that of the NFF. “People ask me, ‘Why don’t you want to boycott the United States now? You wanted to boycott Qatar?’ But we never called for a boycott of Qatar,” she explained. “We wanted to participate but didn’t qualify. Playing against Israel doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stand for our values.”
Breaking Barriers in Football Leadership
Klaveness is the first woman to lead the NFF and previously ran for an open UEFA ExCo seat in 2023, competing against 10 male candidates. Despite securing only 18 of 55 votes and finishing tenth, her persistence has paid off. With her election this week, UEFA’s governing body now includes two women for the first time, as she joins Laura McAllister of Wales.
One of her key goals is to push for greater clarity in football governance, particularly in relation to women’s football. “Football leadership has been dominated by men, with most coming from the men’s side of the game,” she noted. “It’s also a question of competence—understanding the specific challenges in women’s football, including differences in physiology and market dynamics.”
Strengthening Women’s Football Across Europe
Klaveness is particularly concerned about the widening gap between elite and lower-tier women’s leagues. “We must ensure that the top leagues don’t pull too far away from the rest,” she emphasized. “We need more professional leagues in Europe so that young girls everywhere can dream of careers in football—not just as players, but also as coaches and leaders.”
With her new position on UEFA’s ExCo, Klaveness is determined to drive meaningful change and safeguard football’s core values for future generations.
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