Norway Footballer Facing Conviction For Sharing Illegal Video

Norway world Andreas Schjelderup says he is facing condemnation for illegally sharing a video.

The 21-year-old Benfica winger posted a connection connected his Instagram relationship connected Saturday, admitting to a "stupid mistake" erstwhile he was 19 and playing for Danish Superliga broadside Nordsjaelland.

His connection comes aft he was included successful Norway's 24-man squad for this week's important World Cup qualifying matches against Estonia and Italy that could spot nan state scope nan tourney for nan first clip since 1998.

Schjelderup said he had received a video and shared it pinch a friend without knowing nan afloat content, and deleted it arsenic soon arsenic he was told what it contained.

"What I did successful Denmark astatine that clip was forbidden and not OK. I will return afloat work for it," he wrote.

"I would for illustration to apologise first and foremost to those affected by nan video. Then to my friends, family, employers, state and each nan fans I person disappointed.

"I wish I could spell backmost successful clip and alteration my mistake. I person ne'er done thing forbidden before, aliases been progressive pinch nan police, truthful I person been successful daze for a agelong clip while this has been going on."

He said he was "ready to look nan consequences" and urged group not to "watch aliases dispersed videos pinch harmful aliases violative content".

"The offence I will beryllium convicted for does not bespeak connected who I americium arsenic a personification and what I guidelines for."

It is not known what nan video contained, but Schjelderup said it was "what appeared to beryllium 2 young men successful an old-quality video" which he sent "without thinking".

He said he "only saw nan first fewer seconds and not what nan video developed into".

Schjelderup said he had co-operated pinch nan Danish constabulary and was charged for nan offence, saying he would beryllium convicted "in nan adjacent future" and was apt to person a suspended sentence.

Danish media said nan subordinate was owed to look successful tribunal later this month.

His connection follows property sum successful Denmark alleging an unnamed footballer had been charged pinch an offence which concerns possession aliases sharing of intersexual worldly which features group nether nan property of 18.

Rui Costa, president of Portuguese broadside Benfica, has been reported arsenic saying nan nine will support Schjelderup.

Speaking connected Saturday, Norway head Stale Solbakken said he has spoken to Schjelderup, who he said had done "an incredibly foolish thing".

He added: "He has admitted nan incident that took spot 2 years agone and is taking work for his actions.

"I person afloat assurance that he has learned from this and that he will ne'er do thing for illustration it again.

"This is simply a reliable business for Andreas, truthful we request to return bully attraction of him erstwhile he joins nan squad connected Monday."

Norway are connected nan verge of a first quality astatine nan World Cup since 1998, starring their qualifying group by 3 points pinch 2 matches remaining.

Schjelderup added: "I besides cognize this will beryllium an unneeded disturbance to nan nationalist squad of Norway earlier immoderate of nan astir important games successful our history.

"My volition was to stock this aft nan games to debar that. But unfortunately, that is not imaginable immoderate more."

BBC Sport has contacted Schjelderup's lawyer and nan Danish Prosecution Service for comment.