Vålerenga Fotball has submitted its response to the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) regarding the use of a transfer committee in the sale of Henrik Bjørdal. The 29-year-old player was sold to Viking just before the transfer window closed, prompting NFF to request clarification on the committee's role.
The club is coming off a 2-2 away draw against Sarpsborg 08 FF on September 6th, and has recent form showing one draw and one loss in their last two matches.
Vålerenga operates with a dual model where Vålerenga Fotball Elite is the sporting side and Vålerenga Fotball AS can control commercial operations. In the sale of Bjørdal, a committee was used where half the members came from the company. Daily leader Svein Graff and new board chair Ine Hope Karlsen have both commented on the process.
The club describes the committee as an advisory body for information exchange and economic guidance. They emphasize that the real decision-making authority lay with the club, not the company. According to Vålerenga's explanation to NFF, company representatives had no decision-making power in sporting matters.
Svein Graff commented on the use of the term transfer committee. "The term 'transfer committee' in isolation can give the impression that this is a joint decision-making body. That is not the case," Graff said. He clarified that the committee was to ensure good information flow and financial understanding.
Ine Hope Karlsen confirmed that it was the committee that made the decision to sell Bjørdal to Viking. She stressed that the club operates in accordance with NFF laws and regulations. Vålerenga will in future refer to it as a cooperation forum rather than a transfer committee to avoid misunderstandings.
The sale of Bjørdal occurred during a period where the club has had a difficult start to the autumn season. With only one point from their last two matches, there is pressure to turn the trend around.
The club's organizational model has been discussed before, and this case highlights how it is practiced in the transfer market. Vålerenga claims the company representatives only had an economic advisory role in the Bjørdal transfer.
The NFF will now consider Vålerenga's explanation before potentially taking the matter further. The club is simultaneously preparing for the important away derby against Lillestrøm on Sunday, September 12th, a match that always carries extra significance for both teams and their supporters.
