Norway International Andreas Schjelderup Faces Conviction for Sharing Video
Andreas Schjelderup, the 21-year-old winger for Benfica and proud Norwegian international, has publicly acknowledged that he is facing conviction for illegally sharing a video. In a candid statement posted Saturday on his Instagram, the young athlete reflected on what he described as a “stupid mistake” made when he was just 19 and playing for Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga.
This revelation comes at a pivotal moment, as Schjelderup has been named in Norway’s 24-man squad for crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Estonia and Italy—encounters that could mark the nation’s first World Cup appearance since 1998.
In his statement, Schjelderup recounted how he had received the video and, without fully understanding its content, passed it along to a friend. He emphasized that he deleted it immediately upon realizing its nature. “What I did in Denmark at that time was illegal and not OK. I will take full responsibility for it,” he asserted.
The young player took the opportunity to apologize, expressing remorse to those affected by the video, as well as to his friends, family, employers, country, and fans. “I wish I could go back in time and change my mistake. I have never done anything illegal before or been involved with the police, so I have been in shock for a long time while this has been going on,” he admitted.
Schjelderup stated he is “ready to face the consequences” and encouraged everyone to refrain from watching or sharing harmful or offensive content. “The offense I will be convicted for does not reflect on who I am as a person and what I stand for,” he added.
Though the specifics of the video remain undisclosed, Schjelderup indicated it featured “what appeared to be two young men in an old-quality video,” which he had sent “without thinking.” He noted that he had only viewed the beginning and was unaware of its later development.
Having cooperated with Danish police, Schjelderup confirmed he had been charged and expects to be convicted “in the near future,” likely receiving a suspended sentence. Danish media reports indicated he is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
This statement follows recent press coverage in Denmark, which suggested that an unnamed footballer had been charged with an offense related to the possession or sharing of sexual material involving minors under 18.
Rui Costa, president of Benfica, has expressed the club’s unwavering support for Schjelderup during this challenging period. Norway’s manager, Stale Solbakken, remarked on Saturday that he had spoken with Schjelderup, labeling the actions as “incredibly foolish.” He emphasized that the player has taken responsibility for his past actions, expressing full confidence that Schjelderup has learned from the experience.
“This is a tough situation for Andreas, so we need to take good care of him when he joins the team on Monday,” Solbakken concluded.
As Norway stands on the brink of their first World Cup since 1998, leading their qualifying group by three points with only two matches remaining, Schjelderup acknowledged the timing of this incident. “I know this will be an unnecessary disturbance to the Norwegian national team before some of the most important games in our history. My intention was to share this after the games to avoid that. But unfortunately, that is not possible anymore.”
BBC Sport has reached out to Schjelderup’s lawyer, the Danish Prosecution Service, and Danish police for further comment.
