Erling Braut Haaland and his teammates keep all their chances of participating in the 2022 World Cup. Norwegian football voted against a boycott of the next World Cup in Qatar on Sunday.
Boycott demanded by clubs and supporters in the face of the conditions of migrant workers in the emirate.
A particularly expected decision because, if Norway has not yet won its qualification for the competition, it was likely to become the first country in the world to snub the World Cup which will be held from November 21 to December 18, 2022.
Gathered at an extraordinary congress organized by the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), 368 delegates voted for a motion excluding a boycott while 121 rejected it.
A Norwegian expert report was also positioned against a boycott, judging that it was not the adequate tool and instead recommending 26 measures to, among other things, consolidate and extend the social advances made in Qatar.
"A boycott means turning your back on Qatar and its challenges, and thus depriving yourself of the possibility of committing to improvements," said Terje Svendsen, the president of the Norwegian federation, at the start of the debates.
One in two Norwegians in favor of a boycott
The heavy human tolls mentioned by some media in connection with the work and preparations for the World Cup have left traces in public opinion: one in two Norwegians is in favor of a boycott and only 26% oppose it, according to a published poll. this Thursday.
According to Terje Svendsen, Fifa had informed him that the choice of boycott would have been equated with a withdrawal.
A decision which would then have deprived Norway of the right to play the remaining qualifying matches this fall.
Sanctions, which could go as far as exclusion from future international competitions, were also expected.
With the threat now removed, it remains for the star of the workforce, Erling Haaland and his teammates, to qualify.
Norway are fourth in their qualifying group with 6 points, one step behind the Turkish leader.