Ask Onix
Norway's Schjelderup admits to sharing illegal video, faces court conviction
Norwegian international Andreas Schjelderup, 21, revealed on Saturday that he is set to be convicted for illegally sharing a video while playing for Danish club Nordsjaelland two years ago, calling it a "stupid mistake" in a public statement posted on Instagram.
The Benfica winger, who has earned seven caps for Norway, acknowledged the incident occurred when he was 19 and said he shared the video with a friend "without thinking," deleting it immediately after learning of its content. "What I did in Denmark at that time was illegal and not OK. I will take full responsibility for it," he wrote.
Apology and legal consequences
Schjelderup issued a public apology to those affected by the video, as well as to his family, teammates, employers, and fans. "I wish I could go back in time and change my mistake," he stated, emphasizing that he had never previously been involved in illegal activity or police matters. The player described being in "shock" over the situation and confirmed he is cooperating with Danish authorities, expecting a conviction "in the near future" with a likely suspended sentence.
Danish media reports suggest the case involves possession or distribution of sexual material featuring minors. Schjelderup clarified that he only viewed the first few seconds of the video, which appeared to show "two young men," before sharing it. Court proceedings are scheduled for later this month.
Impact on Norway's World Cup campaign
The revelation comes as Schjelderup prepares to join Norway's squad for critical World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Italy this week-matches that could secure the team's first tournament appearance since 1998. Norway currently leads their qualifying group by three points with two games remaining.
Schjelderup expressed regret over the timing, stating he had intended to disclose the matter after the qualifiers to avoid distractions. "This will be an unneeded disturbance," he admitted, while Norway manager Ståle Solbakken affirmed his support, calling the incident "incredibly foolish" but stressing Schjelderup's accountability and growth. "He has admitted what happened and is taking responsibility," Solbakken said. "We need to take good care of him when he joins the team on Monday."
Club and legal response
Benfica president Rui Costa has reportedly pledged the club's support for Schjelderup. Meanwhile, BBC Sport has reached out to the player's lawyer, the Danish Prosecution Service, and local police for further comment. The case underscores broader concerns about digital conduct among athletes, with Schjelderup urging others not to "watch or spread videos with harmful or offensive content."
"The offence I will be convicted for does not reflect on who I am as a person and what I stand for."
Andreas Schjelderup, via Instagram
