A scandal has erupted within the Norway national football team, drawing in Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard after private messages between the two stars were leaked in a new book.
Haaland and Ødegaard, both pivotal players for Norway, have yet to lead their country to a major tournament since Norway last qualified for EURO 2000. The controversy comes in light of allegations that during the coronavirus pandemic, the team engaged in deceptive tactics to mislead Norwegian health authorities by exploiting an “ethically questionable loophole” regarding travel regulations.
The book, titled The Battle of the National Team, reveals that Norway’s plans faced disruption in November 2020 when defender Omar Elabdellaoui tested positive for COVID-19. It is alleged that team doctor Asle B. Kjellsen permitted 19 players, including Haaland, to travel directly to matches from abroad, avoiding Oslo’s strict health guidelines that applied to domestic athletes. However, it was the leaked private messages between Haaland and Ødegaard that stirred controversy within the squad.
The leaked group chat, highlighted by NRK, features Haaland sending a screenshot of a Dagbladet article discussing the travel situation to Ødegaard, who responded with seven Santa Claus emojis. This exchange, far from being a serious discussion, raised eyebrows and cast a shadow over the team’s preparations.
The fallout from these revelations was felt on the pitch as well, with Norway suffering a 3-0 defeat to Romania and later drawing with Austria. Addressing the book’s claims, Kjellsen remarked to NRK, “Some may see me as a cynical doctor without morals after reading the book. I know that I was loyal to my patients, in this case, the players of the national team.”
The leak of private communications has sparked frustration among the Norwegian players. Genoa midfielder Morten Thorsby expressed his discontent, stating, “It’s clear that we don’t want things like this to leak out. I understand very well that people outside are interested in this, but it is something we should keep private. It is important that private messages between us remain in the group.”
Despite the off-field distractions, Norway has enjoyed a strong start to their current Nations League campaign, sitting at the top of their group after three matches. Haaland shone brightly in a recent 3-0 victory over Slovenia, scoring twice, and will look to maintain this momentum in their upcoming match against Austria. However, the team will be without Ødegaard, who is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the September international break.
