At the European Championships in 2016 and the World Cup in 2018, Iceland was the big popular figure. Neutral football fans could also do that Northern Europeans like something. But the shiny image gets enormous scratches.
When you think of Icelandic football, you think of the sensational participation in World and European Championships, a “huh” with thousands of “Vikings” in the stands and an enthusiastic team that won everyone’s sympathy. It was a miracle that a country with around 350,000 inhabitants was able to keep up with the major soccer powers like Argentina, Portugal or England.
But there is practically nothing left of the euphoria surrounding the “Strákarnir okkar” (in German: Our boys). This is not due to the missed European Championship 2021 or the bad starting position in the World Cup qualification, but to allegations of abuse, which ensured that only President Gudni Bergsson resigned and then the board followed him.
The background
Two women accuse a national player of having sexually assaulted and molested them in 2017. He is said to have grabbed one of them by the neck in a nightclub and grabbed her crotch. According to media reports, the player is said to be Kolbeinn Sigthorsson. The association did not confirm the identity, but announced that the Icelanders’ record scorer would not be used in the World Cup qualifiers against Romania, North Macedonia and Germany.
He himself has already commented on the allegations in a statement, describing his behavior as “inappropriate”, and has already apologized. He rejected the allegation of sexual abuse. Sigthorsson continued: “I regret what I did and take responsibility for it. I also wanted to reconcile with them. They demanded compensation for pain and suffering and an apology to which I consented.” He also donated the equivalent of 20,000 euros for the fight against sexual violence.
Hush money instead of educational work
The association had been informed of the allegations, but President Bergsson denied this knowledge about two weeks ago, so one of the victims made the allegations public. The woman even claimed that money should be used to silence her.
As a result, the pressure increased, which is why the President and Board of Directors resigned and the association is now without leadership.
The woman who made the allegations public claimed to know of even more cases. You know of up to seven active and former national players who are in connection with sexual assault. Sigthorsson is not an isolated case. The great reputation of the Icelandic selection has suddenly been ruined.
And so on Wednesday there is no team that is internationally celebrated for their solidarity and performance against Germany – but a team that threatens to lose all sympathy.
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