OSLO, Norway (AP) — One of the biggest weeks for Norwegian soccer in a generation risks being distracted by a key player’s admission that he is likely to be convicted of sharing illegal videos.
Andreas Schjelderup, a 21-year-old Norwegian winger who plays for Portuguese club Benfica, said on social media over the weekend that he was “embarrassed” and ready to face the consequences of what he described as a “crime” committed when he was 19 and playing for Denmark’s Nordsjälland.
The case followed reports in Danish media that an anonymous soccer player had been charged with sharing sexual content of people under the age of 18.
Kjelderup joined the Norwegian squad this week as they aim to qualify for the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1998. The squad, which includes Manchester City star Erling Haaland, leads the qualification group by three points with two games remaining and will play at home to Estonia on Thursday and away to second-placed Italy on Sunday.
Norway has a much better goal difference than Italy, so a win against Estonia would effectively guarantee them a spot in next year’s tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Norwegian Football Association president Lise Klavenes told Norwegian media this week that Kjölderup had made a “very serious mistake that entails criminal liability.” She said the federation was in touch with the player’s lawyer and that Schjerderup’s case would be heard in Denmark on November 19.
Norway manager Starre Solbakken said there was “no excuse for what he did” and that the winger had complied with police instructions “from day one”.
According to Norwegian newspaper VG, Kjellderup held a meeting with his teammates on Monday. One of them, Antonio Nusa, said it was a stressful time for the team.
In a lengthy statement posted on Instagram over the weekend, Schjerderup said he received the video in question and immediately forwarded it to a friend “without a second thought” (it is no longer listed on his account).
“I only saw the first few seconds and had no idea what the rest of the video contained,” he wrote. “After a few seconds, my friend told me that of course it was illegal to send such a video, so I deleted it immediately.
“Unfortunately at that moment, I didn’t consider the consequences and didn’t realize that sharing it could be illegal. I should have understood the seriousness of it, but I didn’t.”
Schjerderup said he had “never intended to spread anything or cause any harm to anyone involved” and apologized to those close to him, including those who appeared in the video and the Norwegian team, saying “it would be an unnecessary distraction before the most important match in our history”.
“I have been charged with this crime,” he said, “and I will probably be convicted soon and probably receive a suspended sentence.
“I have no excuses. What I did in Denmark was illegal and wrong, and I take full responsibility for it. I hope that by sharing my story, others will learn from it and think twice before telling people they shouldn’t share.”
Kravenes and Solbakken said there was no need for Schjerderup to be removed or receive any additional punishment from the team. The Norwegian Football Association and Klavenes have previously acknowledged being the conscience of European football on issues such as gender pay equality and FIFA governance.
Kjölderup made his debut for Norway in June last year against Kosovo. This season, he played in the Champions League with Benfica, managed by Jose Mourinho.
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