In a UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Brann and St Pölten this year, Brann supporters chanted “UEFA mafia” after the Norwegian team were not awarded a free-kick. As a result, the club have been fined €5,000 (£4,275) by European football's main governing body.
Dear Uefa, why have we been fined €5,000 for ‘Uefa mafia’ chants? https://t.co/h9qxuRPuwl
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) April 2, 2024
Brann president slams UEFA
Aslak Sverdrup, who is the president of Brann, wrote an article in the Guardian on the UEFA fine and what it means for the club.
He said: “For a short period of our game against St Pölten in January our supporters chanted “Uefa mafia” after not being awarded a free-kick. Big deal? Apparently so as we were fined €5,000 (£4,275) by Uefa for it. In women’s football, that is a lot of money and about 10% of the prize money for winning the match.”
Brann Women continue to grow
Brann have predominately only had a men’s team in their 116-year existence. Brann Women were formed in 2022, following the acquisition of Sandviken. Bridging the inequality gap between the men’s and women’s teams has been top of the agenda for Sverdrup, which was helped when their recent Champions League quarter-final home tie against Barcelona sold out. As well as this, 600 Brann supporters travelled to the away leg in Barcelona in a tie they eventually lost 5-2 on aggregate.
Barcelona beat Brann 5-2 on aggregate! 🤩
They will face Chelsea in the #UWCL semi-finals… 👀 pic.twitter.com/By0cuWHYWW
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 28, 2024
Sverdrup added: “Our supporters have fully embraced our strategy and support our women’s and men’s teams with equal passion. “We are from Bergen and we sing what we want,” they shout with enthusiasm and conviction. Coming from a country that places a very high value on freedom of expression, we are deeply concerned that these core values are challenged and penalised by the top level of European football.”