Norway’s World Cup qualification celebrations lasted less than a week. Just days after the jubilant 4-1 victory over Italy in Milan, which secured Norway’s spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026, 21-year-old left-winger Andreas Schjelderup was handed a one-year suspended sentence by a court in Denmark. Schjelderup, who did not get the chance to play in the match where Erling Haaland starred, has now found himself in the spotlight for reasons other than Norway’s football hero.
In this blog on Odds96, we break down all the key details surrounding Andreas Schjelderup’s involvement in an explicit content case and other major developments related to the story.
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Timeline: What Happened and When
Two years ago, while still playing for the Danish club Nordsjaelland, the talented footballer forwarded a 27-second sex video featuring two boys under the age of 18. Schjelderup had already made the allegations public in an Instagram post on November 8th, before joining the national team, and apologised.
Schjelderup explained that he only saw the first few seconds of the video before forwarding it to four friends in a Snapchat group. “We were always sending each other memes, like many teenagers do.” When he was made aware of the illegal content, he deleted the video immediately.
Court Reduces Prison Term to 14 Days, Suspended
The young footballer was cooperative and confessed before the court in Copenhagen. According to the Norwegian newspaper “Verdens Gang,” the judge described the verdict as a “yellow card” and handed down a 14-day prison sentence. The prosecution had sought 20 days. Since the sentence was suspended, Schjeldrup will only have to go to prison if he is found guilty of another crime within the next year. His lawyer has not yet indicated whether the player will accept the verdict.
Even before the verdict, Schjelderup had received backing from both his club, Benfica Lisbon, and the Norwegian Football Federation. Both had announced that they did not intend to sanction the player for his mistake.
Statement by Andreas Schjelderup, who came under scrutiny following allegations related to a pedophilia case: “Hello everyone, I want to be open with you about a stupid mistake I made about two years ago. I was 19 at the time, and now I have to face the consequences of that mistake.
“I take full responsibility for what happened and for my actions, but it’s important for me that you also understand the context.
“At that time, I was living in Denmark. I received a short video and, just a few seconds later, forwarded it to a friend without thinking. “Like many young people, we constantly sent each other memes. When I got that video, I forwarded it as usual without realising it was something different. I had only seen the first seconds and didn’t realise what the rest of the video contained.
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“A few seconds later, my friend told me that sending such a video was, of course, illegal, and I immediately deleted it. “At that moment, I unfortunately didn’t consider the consequences or realise that sharing it could be illegal. I should have understood the seriousness of it, but I didn’t.
“The only explanation I can give is that, in an old, low-quality video, I saw what looked like two young men, was shocked, and impulsively sent it to a friend without thinking. “My intention was never to spread anything or harm anyone involved. It was a stupid, one-time mistake that I deeply regret.
“When the Danish police contacted me earlier this year about what happened, I told them the truth and fully cooperated throughout the process. I have been charged with this offence, and I will likely 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. “First and foremost, I want to apologise to those affected by the video. I also apologise to my friends, my family, my employers, my country, and all the fans I have disappointed.
“Right now, I wish I could go back in time and undo my mistake. I have never done anything illegal before or had any contact with the police, so this entire situation has been a huge shock for me. “But here we are. I made a mistake, and I am ready to face the consequences. The crime I will be convicted of does not reflect who I am or what I stand for as a person.
“I am truly sorry for my mistake and ashamed to be in this situation. Everyone who knows me knows what I stand for, so I understand that this will come as a shock to many. “I also understand that this will be an unnecessary distraction for the Norwegian national team before some of the most important matches in our history. To avoid that, I had planned to share this after the games, but unfortunately, that’s no longer possible.
“And to everyone, please do not watch or share harmful or disturbing content. It is illegal. I want to apologise once again and hope that you can forgive me. I will do everything I can to make things right.”
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Reaction from the Norwegian Football Federation
Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation, commented on the sentencing of Andreas Schjelderup sentenced to 14 days in prison with a suspended sentence after illegally sharing a sex video involving minors. In statements to the media, the head of the organisation said the following:
“The ruling is as expected. As before, we believe that Stale Solbakken, Norway’s national team coach, has complete freedom to call up Andreas for national team matches.”
“We will investigate whether this ruling will have an impact on entry into the host countries of the World Cup,” he added, referring to the United States, Mexico, and Canada, countries that will host the 2026 World Cup next summer.
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José Mourinho Speaks on Schjelderup Case
José Mourinho has already given his preview of Atlético CP vs. Benfica, a match counting towards the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup. In a press conference, the Portuguese coach spoke about the Schjelderup case, a player who already knows the sentence applied:
“Schjelderup made a mistake. He went to court, and he was convicted. It’s not a conviction that prevents him from practising his profession. And for someone who has made a mistake, who has accepted that they were wrong, who has perfectly accepted the conviction, it’s an important step for them to feel that they cannot forget what they did.
And the conviction ensures they don’t forget. They have to continue with their lives, being less naive than in the past, learning from a negative experience that marks and will always mark them. They have to continue to grow as a person. More important than as a football player. And be positive.”
FAQs
1. Why did Andreas Schjelderup receive a suspended sentence?
He shared an explicit video involving minors, admitted his mistake, and the court gave a 14-day suspended sentence instead of 20 days.
2. Did Schjelderup play in Norway’s World Cup qualifier against Italy?
No, he did not get any playing time in the match where Norway beat Italy 4-1 to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
3. How did Schjelderup respond to the allegations?
He publicly apologised on Instagram, took full responsibility, and explained he only saw a few seconds of the video before realising it was illegal.
4. What role did his club and the Norwegian Football Federation play?
Both Benfica and the Norwegian Football Federation supported him, stating they would not impose further sanctions despite the legal ruling.
5. Could this legal issue affect Schjelderup’s international career?
Currently, the sentence is suspended, so he can continue playing unless he commits another offence or host-country restrictions apply for tournaments.
