Futsal in Norway

In Norway, the 5-à-side indoor football version Futsal is one of the most growing sports.

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1. ORGANIZATION:"'

The actual administration of leagues/series is divided between:

"a) The Norwegian Football Association (NFF) – member of UEFA / FIFA"

"b) Indoor Football Scandinavia (IFS) - member of AMF"

This due to several factors which and is ultimately a dispute between FIFA and AMF..

* Income and revenues organization

* Organization model

* Requirements

* Laws of the game

What is the main differences? "'

NFF Futsal:"'

* NFF is a member organization of the Norwegian Sports Federation / Norwegian Olympic comite (NIF/NOK), and by common law is recognized as a self governing authority for all organized football by the Norwegian state. The highest authority of the NFF is the annual general assembly where all clubs are represented, and has the right of vote and speech. Therefore NFF is ultimately controlled by independent (the club must be own by themselves not by any cooperate/ organization) member clubs and local football associations. This in turn is controlled by the individual member of a club (democratic checks and balances).
* A player is required to be a member of a club which are members of the NFF and pay licenses to compete, submit to official doping test, is a subject to the laws of the game and official decisions made by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) / FIFA and can be given disciplinary sanctions which are universal.This will result in that the player has official legal status as an eligible player in all league or international matches. And can officially claim the title (if one is a member of the national team that wins) as Norweigan Champion or FIFA world champion in Futsal
* Teams must meet certain organizational requirements and pay annual fees to the NFF
* The NFF Futsal laws of the game is in accordance with FIFA Futsal rules, the critical difference is - NFF Futsal laws of the game do practise accumulation of direct free kicks - A sending off will result in an automatically one match suspension or if more serious several match suspensions, that may be transferred to the 11 à side (ordinary outdoor football) season. - All referees is required to use certified by the NFF, and has passed annual written and physical test. They are ranked based on this and there performance.

IFS Futsal:

* Snce IFS is not a member of the NIF/NOK, the organization has no official status as a sporting organization.
* Business / financial organizations may own teams
* No teams are member of official sporting associations
* IFS is not recognized as having legal authority
* No requirements for membership in clubs
* No requirements for how clubs are organized
* IFS is a member of the AMF, players can only claim the title (if one is a member of the national team that wins) as IFS Champion or AMF champion in Futsal
* No disciplinary jurisdiction outside IFS matches
* No officially certification of referees

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2. THE LEAGUES AND SERIES

A) NFF Futsal

The NFF has started up qualification for nationwide premiership league, 1st, 2nd 3rd divisions / regional / local F.A series. The final make up of the NFF futsal organization will be cemented in 2008 after the qualification and after decisions made by the NFF and it’s general assembly.

Link to FIFA / NFF Futsal site (only in Norwegian)
* [http://www.fotball.no] NFF Homepage
* [http://www.uefa.org/] UEFA homepage
* [http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/developing/futsal/index.html] FIFA Futsal homepage

B) IFS Futsal

The IFS premiership, Combitelserien, consists of 5 series:

* Trondheim
* Oslo
* Bergen
* Kristiansand
* Stavanger

[http://www.futsal.no Futsal Elite]

Teams include:
* [http://www.hajduksplit.net Hajduk Halleraker]
* [http://www.lekestue.no Solør Futsal]
* [http://www.nidaros-futsal.com Nidaros Futsal]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/mustafunte/ FK Mustafunte]