Manchester United will play a show match against Rosenborg in Trondheim on Friday, July 24, first reported by TV 2 and confirmed by Rosenborg on Thursday. This has consequences for the Eliteserien schedule, as FFK was originally set to meet Rosenborg at Lerkendal on Sunday, July 26, but the league match has been moved to Monday due to the show match. The leader of FFK's supporter group Plankehaugen, Sandra Solheim Kjelsås, expressed frustration, calling it a sad prioritization and arguing the league match should come before a show match.
She emphasized the goal should be to fill the stadium with both home and away supporters, noting it will be particularly challenging for traveling fans with long journeys. Kjelsås added this was a match they thought they could easily get two buses for, as such trips to Trondheim and Bergen are popular. Plankehaugen has called for more support from FFK, frustrated the club does not protest more when traveling fans have plans ruined.
I think it is a sad prioritization. I think that one should prioritize the league match at home before a show match.
Rosenborg and FFK officials have responded. Tore Berdal, daily manager of Rosenborg, said they are happy to welcome Manchester United, noting it means many traveling supporters and a full stadium. FFK's football director Joacim Heier stated they must relate to the schedule committee with NFF, NTF, and TV 2 that sets the schedule.
He added they wish matches are best arranged for supporters and emphasized the club always prioritizes its most important supporters, working hard for FFK and its owners, the city and supporters. Inge Braa, leader of Rosenborg's supporter club Kjernen, said it is very stupid to move league matches for a show match and unfortunate for Fredrikstad supporters.
This was one of the matches we thought that we could easily get two buses for. Without problem. Because people want to go to Trondheim, people want to go to Bergen. Such trips are nice to get people on.
It is the schedule committee with NFF, NTF, and TV 2 that sets and decides the schedule, which we must relate to. At the same time, we of course wish that as many as possible of our matches are best arranged for the supporters, both home and away.
I can guarantee that we every single day work as hard as we can for FFK and the club's owners' best, and the club's owners are the city and the supporters.
It is very stupid that we have to move Eliteserien matches to be able to play a show match. It is very unfortunate for Fredrikstad supporters.