Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland are at the center of a controversy involving the Norway national team, triggered by the release of private messages in a newly published book.
Despite having prominent players like Arsenal captain Ødegaard and Manchester City striker Haaland, Norway has not qualified for a major tournament since 2000.
The book, The Battle of the National Team, claims that the team exploited an “ethically questionable loophole” to gain an advantage in the Nations League during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a chapter titled “The Doctor’s Lie,” it is alleged that in November 2020, after Galatasaray defender Omar Elabdellaoui tested positive for Covid-19, the team attempted to circumvent Norway’s health regulations.
Team doctor Asle B. Kjellsen reportedly permitted 19 players, including Ødegaard, to travel separately from abroad instead of together from Oslo, using a legal exemption for foreign athletes. Ødegaard is said to have flown from Madrid, while Haaland came from Germany.
Messages from a private group chat between Ødegaard and Haaland, disclosed in the book and by Norwegian outlet NRK, show Haaland sharing a screenshot of a news article questioning the team’s travel plans.
Ødegaard responded with a message featuring seven Santa Claus emojis, seemingly making light of the situation. However, the preparations did not yield positive results, as Norway lost 3-0 to Romania and later drew with Austria.
In response to the allegations, Kjellsen told NRK, “Some may view me as a heartless doctor lacking ethics after reading the book, but I was loyal to my patients, the national team players.”
The incident has created tension within the team, particularly regarding the leak of private messages. Genoa midfielder Morten Thorsby expressed, “We don’t want these things to be leaked. I understand the public interest, but private group messages should remain confidential.”
Currently, Ødegaard is out of the Norway squad due to an ankle injury sustained during the last international break. In an update in Arsenal’s match program prior to their recent victory over Southampton, Ødegaard mentioned he was making good progress: “I’ve been improving a lot lately.
Every day I feel better. I hope to be back soon. We’re waiting to see how my ankle responds to training, but so far, it’s better than expected.”
