Bjørndal IF youth tournament flagged by Norwegian Football Federation

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has intervened regarding a planned football tournament for 10-year-olds organized by Bjørndal IF in Oslo. The club had initially organized an ‘invitational cup’ involving various selected teams, which the NFF stated violated existing regulations.

Tore Jarl Bråteng, manager of NFF Oslo, noted that the club had not applied to host the tournament and that the original plans contained elements contrary to NFF rules. Norwegian sports regulations for children mandate that competitions must be open to all, recommending a ‘first-come, first-served’ approach if capacity is limited.

Bjørndal IF has since acknowledged that the original plans did not follow the regulatory framework. Following guidance from the Oslo Football District, the club has now received approval to hold the cups.