Manchester City’s financial-rule verdict has travelled quickly beyond England, reaching Norway’s Nations League camp before a meeting with Portugal. Erling Haaland had been due to face reporters on Saturday, but the striker will now remain out of the media spotlight as attention around his club intensifies.
Norway alter their media plans
- A ruling issued on Friday found Manchester City responsible for almost all of the Premier League charges relating to financial-regulation breaches over several years.
- The punishment under consideration could become an unprecedented one in English top-flight football, making the outcome a major subject of discussion across the international game.
- Haaland had originally been selected to speak at Norway’s pre-match press conference before the Nations League fixture against Portugal.
- The Norwegian Football Federation changed that plan, with the forward withheld from the appearance in order to shield him before a demanding run of international matches.
- Head coach Stale Solbakken, Fredrik Aursnes and Andreas Schjelderup will instead represent the squad at the press conference.
City players face questions abroad
City’s players have been asked about the case while away with their national sides. Rodri, the Spanish Barcelona international, said he continues to believe the club is innocent.
Haaland has also been approached for a response, but Norway’s revised arrangements mean his view will not be aired publicly before Portugal arrive on the Nations League schedule.
The federation’s communications chief, Morten Skjonsberg, said the changes had been made to Saturday’s media session and confirmed that Solbakken, Aursnes and Schjelderup would attend.
