April 6 – Danish FA president Jesper Moller has defended his track record on the UEFA executive committee after his re-election, claiming he defends good governance.
The DBU president is prominent on the wine-and-dine circuit in football and ran an invisible campaign for re-election. Moller’s achievements in European football have not been clear. The Nordic countries were defeated in their bid to stage Euro 2025, but, at the same time, Moller retained his seat on the UEFA executive committee.
“I know that some other countries have emphasised that you must first show that you can be re-elected in your home country at least once,” said Moller during a virtual news conference. “But I don’t think that I have an international reputation for not speaking my mind and not being sharp enough. If you have any doubts, I think you can see the reactions from my press conference in November (in Qatar). There were many who thought that I was far, far too sharp in relation to FIFA.”
“There are also some who think I’m a whiner. I’ve had a reputation for a few years that every time I raise my hand, I spit out a strip that says ‘good governance’.”
Moller and the DBU have long portrayed themselves as advocates of change, but the Danish president is notorious for wanting to maintain the status quo.
“I want to continue the work I have done for the previous four years. This is also what the president has said to us who have been re-elected. He expects us to make at least the same effort,” said Moller.
“What comes first right now is the matter surrounding the European Super League, which must be shut down. We have to be on target because it is very important – also for our Danish clubs. That is an absolutely key matter.”
“And then we have to continue with the development of women’s football. That is our major objective, and I also feel that we must continue to ensure the balance between Southern, Western, Eastern and Northern Europe.”
That sentence may contain some irony. Moller will retain his seat, but Europe’s flagship women’s tournament won’t be coming to Denmark. It was remarkable that the Nordic countries could only muster four votes for their Euro 2025 bid, with both Jesper Møller and Karl Erik-Nilsson on the executive committee.
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