Norwegian football star Andreas Schjelderup has publicly acknowledged being charged by Danish authorities for sharing an illegal video involving minors, breaking his silence on the matter in a lengthy social media statement.
The Charges and Admission
Benfica player and Norway international Andreas Schjelderup confirmed that Danish police have charged him with sharing illegal content. The 21-year-old forward described the incident, which occurred when he was 19, as a 'stupid mistake' for which he takes full responsibility.
In his Instagram story posted late Saturday night, Schjelderup explained that he received a short video while living in Denmark approximately two years ago and forwarded it to a friend without properly considering its content. He claims he only saw the first few seconds and didn't realise the video developed into illegal material.
Context and Immediate Aftermath
Schjelderup detailed that his friend immediately alerted him to the video's illegal nature, prompting him to delete it straight away. The footballer emphasised that his intention wasn't to spread harmful content or cause damage to those involved, but rather what he described as a thoughtless action during typical meme-sharing between teenagers.
The player cooperated fully with Danish police after they contacted him earlier this year about the incident. He acknowledges that the charge will likely result in a conviction and probably a suspended sentence in the near future.
Apology and Consequences
Schjelderup issued extensive apologies to those affected by the video, along with his friends, family, employers, the Norwegian national team, and supporters. He expressed particular regret that the timing creates 'unneeded disturbance to the national team of Norway' during what he described as some of the most important games in their history.
The Benfica player, who has seven senior caps for Norway and plays alongside stars like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard for the national team, stated he hopes his experience will serve as a warning to others about the seriousness of sharing potentially illegal content online.
Schjelderup concluded his statement by emphasising that the offence doesn't reflect his character while accepting that he must face the consequences for his actions.
