Norwegian international Andreas Schjelderup has revealed he is facing conviction in Denmark for illegally sharing a video when he was 19, calling it a “stupid mistake” and taking full responsibility for his actions.
The 21-year-old Benfica winger, who has seven caps for Norway, issued a public statement on Instagram on Saturday, admitting to sharing a video clip while playing for Danish Superliga side Nordsjaelland — without realising the nature of its content.
Schjelderup’s admission comes just days before Norway’s crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Estonia and Italy, fixtures that could secure the country’s first appearance at a World Cup since 1998.
“A Stupid Mistake”
In his statement, Schjelderup explained that he received a video and forwarded it to a friend without knowing what it fully contained. Upon learning its true nature, he deleted it immediately.
“What I did in Denmark at that time was illegal and not OK,” he wrote. “I will take full responsibility for it. I would like to apologise first and foremost to those affected by the video, and then to my friends, family, employers, country, and fans.”
He described the experience as “a shock,” saying he had never been in trouble with the law before. “I wish I could go back in time and change my mistake,” he said. “The offence I will be convicted for does not reflect who I am as a person or what I stand for.”
Facing Legal Consequences
According to Schjelderup, the incident took place two years ago in Denmark, where he has cooperated fully with police. He confirmed that he has been charged and expects to be convicted soon, likely receiving a suspended sentence.
Danish media have reported that the case involves the sharing of a video depicting individuals under the age of 18, though Schjelderup did not confirm this detail. He stated that the clip appeared to show “two young men in an old-quality video” and that he only saw the first few seconds before forwarding it.
“I am ready to face the consequences,” he said, urging others not to “watch or spread videos with harmful or offensive content.”
Club and National Support
Benfica president Rui Costa has reportedly expressed the club’s intention to support Schjelderup through the process. The young winger joined the Portuguese champions in 2023 after an impressive spell in Denmark and has been viewed as one of Norway’s brightest prospects.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken said he had discussed the matter directly with Schjelderup. “He has done an incredibly foolish thing,” Solbakken said. “He has admitted the incident that took place two years ago and is taking responsibility for his actions. I have full confidence that he has learned from this and that he will never do anything like it again.”
The national team manager added that the situation was difficult for the player but stressed the importance of offering support. “This is a tough situation for Andreas, so we need to take good care of him when he joins the team on Monday.”
Impact on Norway’s World Cup Push
Schjelderup acknowledged that the news could serve as an unwelcome distraction ahead of Norway’s pivotal qualifiers. The national team currently leads their group by three points with two matches remaining, putting them on the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
“I know this will be an unnecessary disturbance to the national team of Norway before some of the most important games in our history,” he said. “My intention was to share this after the games to avoid that, but unfortunately, that is not possible anymore.”
Despite the controversy, Schjelderup remains available for selection as Norway prepares for its decisive fixtures. His public apology has drawn a largely sympathetic response in Norway, with many recognising the player’s accountability and remorse.
As the legal process continues in Denmark, Schjelderup’s focus will turn back to football — but the episode stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of even seemingly small digital actions.
