As early as 2022, when IFK Värnamo was a newcomer to the top division, the city's municipal council said yes to building a new football arena. During the construction period, IFK Värnamo counted on getting a dispensation to play on the worn-out Finnvedsvallen.
No new arena is ready. And the dispensation expired at the turn of the year. It will not be extended either, announces the Swedish Football Association (SvFF), whose competition committee has decided to reject Värnamo's application for continued dispensation.
Had no choice
"The competition committee has made its decision based on the fact that the rules do not allow for longer dispensation from the arena requirements than the one IFK Värnamo already had for Finnvedsvallen", says Axel Fägerhall, group manager for SvFF's competition group, in a press release.
Based on the current rules, one simply cannot grant dispensation after three years. But there are reasons to change the rules, writes the competition committee (TK) at the same time.
Can be appealed
"TK would like to note that in this case, there is a common will between the association and the municipality to build a new arena, but that due to external factors, it has not been possible to complete the arena construction within the original dispensation period", it states in the decision.
"TK therefore believes that it is of great importance that the rules are reviewed in the future to possibly enable associations to be granted dispensation under the conditions that Värnamo is currently facing."
It's clear that it feels sour, but maybe there's also an opening in that they're talking about reviewing the rules, says Värnamo's club manager Lisa Lidén to Värnamo News.
The decision can be appealed to SvFF's appeals committee, no later than March 6. Whether Värnamo will do so is unclear.
I dare not say anything about it now. We just received the message and we need to first analyze the decision and discuss it within the association and also sit down with the municipality. But appealing is an alternative to move forward, says Lisa Lidén.
Last year, IFK Värnamo was also forced to play four consecutive home matches away, in Borås, Kalmar, and Varberg. Then it was because the grass was too poor.
