Per Ravn Omdal (born 20 August 1947) is a former president of the

Football Association of Norway The Norwegian Football Federation (, ; NFF) is the governing body of football (soccer), football in Norway. It was formed in 1902 and organises the Norway national football team, men's and Norway women's national football team, women's national te ...

. He's also been the vice president of

UEFA The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA ; ; ) is one of six continental bodies of governance in association football. It governs football, futsal and beach soccer, beach football in Europe and the List of transcontinental countries#A ...

since 1996. Per Ravn Omdal has represented Norwegian football with distinction for a number of years within the world and European football movement. A football enthusiast since his childhood, he has been a particularly important figure in football's drive to bolster the game's grassroots.

Honorary president

Omdal was born on 20 August 1947 in

Stavanger Stavanger, officially the Stavanger Municipality, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Norway. It is the third largest city and third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighboring Sandnes) and the ...

. He became a UEFA vice-president in 1996, having joined the executive committee as a member in 1992. His work within the

(NFF) over the years—he also served as NFF president for two terms—led to him being bestowed with the title of honorary president.

EU role

As chairman of the Executive Committee EU Matters Working Group, Omdal has played an important diplomatic and lobbying role within UEFA's dialogue with the European political authorities. He serves on the Meridian Project Board and European Professional Football Strategy Board and Leagues, and was also a European member of the FIFA Executive Committee from 1994 to 2002.

Dedicated enthusiast

Omdal, the son of a football administrator, feels he was born into the game. His playing days included a spell with

Lillestrøm SK Lillestrøm Sportsklubb is a Norwegian professional football club based in the city of Lillestrøm, just outside of the capital Oslo. Lillestrøm SK is a Norwegian football club based in Lillestrøm, playing in Eliteserien. The club was founde ...

, now in the top flight but then in the Third Division. His involvement with the NFF began in 1974. The UEFA vice-president has overseen the development of men's and women's football in his home country, and has served the game with the dedication of someone who "cannot think of a life without football". He represents the club

Fossum IF Fossum Idrettsforening is a Norwegian sports club from Fossum, Grini, Østerås and Eiksmarka in Bærum. It has sections for cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski jumping, alpine skiing, Nordic combined, orienteering, and football, and was found ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omdal, Per Ravn 1947 births Living people People from Stavanger Lillestrøm SK players Kniksen Award winners Norwegian sports executives and administrators Men's association football players not categorized by position Norwegian men's footballers 20th-century Norwegian sportsmen