Norwegian football has taken a step closer to becoming the first league to scrap VAR after Eliteserien and OBOS-ligaen clubs voted for its removal.

During an extraordinary meeting in Viking, 18 of the 32 clubs in Norway’s top two tiers voted to scrap the video assistant referee technology. Five abstained, and nine voted to keep it.

The 32 clubs that constitute the Norsk Toppfotball [NTF] will soon pass the issue on to the Norwegian Football Association [NFF].

Firstly, Bodo NU report that an owners’ meeting will now be held on January 22 in which clubs will present incorrect decisions and put forward their arguments that will be handed to the NFF.

A decision is likely to be made by the NFF in March, but clubs from below the NTF will be involved, which could scupper the 18-9 vote.

Ole Kristian Sandvik of the Norwegian Supporter Alliance commented: “All owner meetings should follow the majority, that is quite obvious.

“A majority of the clubs in NTF are now against VAR, regardless of what happens in the remaining clubs.

“We expect a clear decision that VAR will be abolished, and we actually expect VAR to be abolished from next season.”

In July 2024 a match between Rosenborg and Lillestrom was suspended as fans bombarded the pitch with fishcakes in protest of VAR.