At a time when international soccer has developed into a trench warfare between UEFA and FIFA, DBU president Jesper Møller, decided to throw himself actively into the fray.
The 7. February in Rome, made he up to the elections for the UEFA executive committee. There are 10 candidates for seven seats, so the way looks is not immediately easy, but after a number of soundings among the UEFA’s other 54 member countries, works Jesper Møller quite optimistic.
It is worth to recall that it was the nordic countries, together with a russiskledet coalition that stood behind the choice of sloveneren Aleksander Ceferin as UEFA president in Athens in 2016.
Jesper Møller, and Aleksander Ceferin, both lawyers, have since developed a close cooperation, and Jesper Møller says that he is from several pages have been encouraged to seek election to the powerful executive committee.
already, the nordic countries, the swede Karl-Erik Nilsson placed in the executive committee, where he is first vice president. It was as a thank you for the support for the Ceferin.
In October told Karl-Erik Nilsson in the other nordic fodboldledere that there was a possibility of even a nordic member in the committee.
– We agreed that I should put up. Karl-Erik was sent into the city again, and he could tell that the other knows me, so he would not exclude the possibility that I may be selected.
– the UEFA president will have the balance of the executive committee between the north, south, east and west, and between large and small countries. I have even asked any of them, I know, and they have said, it is a good idea. But it is not easy to get the mandate number two.
– It is not that the russians have recommended you?
– Those I have not spoken with.
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Jesper Møller has gained a good foprhold to the UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin. Photo: Tariq Mikkel Khan.
– Why would you like to in the executive committee?
Had you asked me four months ago, I had said, that it is not currently, but when the opportunity arises, you have to know her to seize the opportunity. I have spoken loudly and a lot in the last few years in UEFA and FIFA on reforms, openness and transparency.
– then, When the opportunity arises, and you say no, then I know how I myself would react the next time a reach up. It is amazing, you have all the positions, but when you get the ability to affect it directly, you will not put up. So weaken your voice.
– In the eight years Allan Hansen sat in the executive committee, he got the possibility to influence things in the direction we’d like it to be. If not Allan had been sitting in there, I don’t think we had scored the four EM-matches in Copenhagen in 2020.
– We will strengthen the efforts kvindefodbolden, and at DBU we are considering to offer woman-EM in 2025. At the same time, have the six nordic countries put the ticket into the woman WORLD championship in 2027. It is too big to cope with alone.
– I will also work with solidarity on the club level, including access to the Champions League and the distribution of the money. I think it is an advantage to be a lawyer. Who are you accustomed to trip you up and say things, regardless of whether it is popular or not, says Jesper Møller.
It is a known matter, that follows the money with, when you are seated in the UEFA’s executive committee, but the exact amount will only be published when UEFA’s financial statements for the year 2018 are presented.
– The money, you will have to sit in the executive committee, the task of the DBU, or if you buy a holiday home at the Coast for them?
– Now should I first just selected. But if I’m selected, I submit the fees for the DBU’s ethical advice and honorarudvalget. And, finally, also of the board of directors.
Previously, I have got a seat on the board of UEFA SA, and it provides about 75,000 dollars a year. The money is presented to the DBU, and it was my own proposal. Now there is perhaps a different amount.
– But you don’t know yet, if you are selected, whether the money goes to DBU, or if you keep any of them yourself?
– No, it is not my decision. But I do not look for me, that I must have the fee in full. But in the end it is the board who decides it.
the Fight against FIFA
In several rounds, FIFA-president Gianni Infantino tried to get the expanded WORLD cup in Qatar in 2022 from 32 to 48 teams. He also told that an unknown consortium is ready with 160 billion dollars to a new club-the WORLD cup and a new nationsturnering.
Each time, UEFA’s president, Aleksander Ceferin, put the foot down and demanded more information. It has created battle lines between FIFA and UEFA, and Jesper Møller fully support Ceferin.
– We discussed it at the UEFA meeting in Dublin in november. Ceferin would hear if he has support among the 55 countries to the course, he runs the opposite FIFA. And he has our support. It is also about how matchkalenderen looks compared to the extra matches, and what happens to the big countries and the big clubs? So, we will have illuminated.
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the FIFA president Gianni Infantino has met fierce opposition from UEFA. Photo: AP
– Ceferin has stopped the plans, but it cannot have been easy for him, when you look at how FIFA’s board of directors is composed. Europe is in the minority, and we are both on the board, and if it comes to a vote at FIFA’s congress. It is Ceferin well aware of, and therefore it is a mighty piece of work he has made.
– Are in been wiser on who it is who will throw the money in the new tournaments?
– No. We continue to hear nothing about a bank in Japan and another nation. But I have not seen any papers on it.
– An expanded WORLD cup in Qatar looks like a dead herring, but Infantino will nevertheless mention it. But it is surely not something you can do?
Legally speaking, has Qatar got awarded a WORLD cup with 32 teams. If it needs to be changed, Qatar legally accept it. It says Infantino. He still works for the extension, is it because he has a democratic decision, that there is support to expand WORLD cup to 48 teams – just first from 2026. He can’t do it in 2022 without the acceptance from Qatar.
– If Qatar says yes, Infantino undoubtedly bring it up on the board and at the congress of June in Paris. It may well achieve, in the first WORLD cup qualifiers in the autumn, says Jesper Møller.
The 10 candidates
Here are the 10 candidates vying for seven places in the UEFA’s executive committee, when the 55 member states assembled for the congress in Rome on 7. February.
1. Elvedin Begić, Bosnia
2. Monfils Boranbayev, Kazakhstan
3. Sandor Csányi, Hungary
4. Armand Duka, Albania
5. Fernando Gomes, Portugal
6. Borislav Mihaylov, Bulgaria
7. Jesper Møller, Denmark
8. Andrii Pavelko, Ukraine
9. Luis Rubiales, Spain
10. Davor Šuker, Croatia
