Andreas Schjelderup Faces Legal Consequences Amid Historic World Cup Qualification Efforts

OSLO, Norway — A pivotal week for Norwegian soccer is being overshadowed by the revelation that prominent player Andreas Schjelderup may face conviction for sharing an illegal video.

The 21-year-old winger, currently with Portuguese club Benfica, expressed his feelings of shame and readiness to accept the consequences of his actions, which he referred to as a “crime” committed while he was playing for Danish team Nordsjaelland at the age of 19. This admission followed reports from Danish media regarding a soccer player, not named, who had been charged with disseminating sexual material involving individuals under the age of 18.

As Schjelderup joins the Norway national team in their bid to qualify for the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1998, the pressure intensifies. Norway currently leads its qualifying group by three points with only two matches left—against Estonia at home on Thursday and against Italy away on Sunday. A victory against Estonia would almost assure their spot in the upcoming tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, given Norway’s significantly better goal difference compared to Italy.

Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Association, addressed the situation, stating that Schjelderup’s actions reflect a “very serious mistake, which entails criminal liability.” She confirmed that the federation is in communication with the player’s legal representatives, with Schjelderup’s case scheduled to be heard on November 19 in Denmark.

Norway’s coach, Ståle Solbakken, commented that there were “no excuses for what he has done,” adding that Schjelderup has been cooperative with authorities since the outset of the investigation.

According to Norwegian daily VG, Schjelderup convened a meeting with his teammates on Monday, with player Antonio Nusa acknowledging the stressful nature of the situation for the squad.

In a detailed statement shared on Instagram—now deleted—Schjelderup explained that he had received the video in question and shared it with a friend without fully understanding its contents. “I had only seen the first seconds and didn’t realize what the rest of the video contained,” he wrote. He expressed regret for not anticipating the potential legal implications and accepted full responsibility for his actions.

“My intention was never to spread anything or harm anyone involved,” Schjelderup stated, extending his apologies to the individuals in the video and to his teammates, emphasizing that this matter could distract from crucial upcoming matches.

He acknowledged his impending legal consequences, saying, “I am likely to be convicted soon, most probably receiving a suspended sentence. There are no excuses on my part. What I did in Denmark was illegal and wrong. I take full responsibility for it, and I hope that by sharing my story, others will learn from it and think twice before forwarding something that shouldn’t be shared.”

Both Klaveness and Solbakken indicated that there was no need for Schjelderup to be dismissed from the team or face additional penalties. The Norwegian FA and Klaveness have previously positioned themselves as leaders in European football on issues such as gender pay equity and FIFA governance.

Schjelderup made his debut for Norway against Kosovo in June of last year and has participated in the Champions League this season while playing for Benfica, which is currently under the direction of Jose Mourinho.