ASKER, Jan 31 (SW) - The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has today confirmed the decision to deny Asker play in Toppserien 2006. Asker is relegated to First Division, and Liungen has been offered the free spot in Toppserien.

Asker is the victim of a new licensing system that has been introduced in Toppserien this year. The licensing system includes demands for organization, administration, coaches and economy. Most of these demands are not strictly enforced, since this is the first year with the new license. The only absolute demand has to do with the economy. The club has to have a positive capital from December, meaning no accumulated debt from previous seasons are allowed. These criteria have been decided by the NFF board.

The NFF licencing committee first denied Asker play in Toppserien on December 28th because they did not meet the economic criteria. This decision was appealed, but the appeal committee confirmed the decision on January 24th. Money raised after January 1st were not taken into consideration. The NFF board has today confirmed the decision, because the board has, according to the established regulations, no legal right to reconsider decisions made by the licensing committees.

This means that the decision to relegate Asker to First Division is final. Liungen, ending 9th in Toppserien last season, has been offered the free spot in Toppserien 2006.

Asker won the Norwegian Cup Final last year, and has been among the top women's football teams in Norway for the last 25 years. Since the nationwide league was intoduced in Norway in 1987, Asker has always been a part of that league. But not so in 2006.