Norway pull Haaland from press conference after Man City found guilty of 114 charges

Norway have withdrawn Erling Haaland from pre-match press conference duties ahead of Sunday’s Nations League fixture against Portugal, a decision that came hours after Manchester City were found guilty on 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against them by the Premier League in 2023.

The striker had been scheduled to face reporters this weekend as part of Norway’s standard media obligations during the international break. Instead, according to Norwegian broadcaster TV2, media manager Morten Skjonsberg informed journalists that Haaland would not be speaking, with Benfica pair Andreas Schjelderup and Fredrik Aursnes taking his place alongside head coach Ståle Solbakken.

“We are making changes to tomorrow’s press conference,” Skjonsberg’s message reportedly read. “Solbakken, Aursnes and Schjelderup will be on the ground floor.”

The timing is significant. News broke on Friday that City had been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges relating to alleged financial breaches spanning several seasons. The club now awaits sentencing, with potential punishments ranging from a points deduction to expulsion from the Premier League. City retain the right to appeal the verdict.

Haaland, who scored twice in Norway’s 3-2 victory over Denmark on Thursday, has previously addressed the charges in public. Speaking to TIME Magazine last July, the striker said he had sought reassurance from the club’s hierarchy.

“I spoke with the bosses, and in the end, I believe them,” Haaland said. “It’s such a tricky situation for me to even sit there and speak about, because I wasn’t really involved in it. So I think the club knows what they’re doing. They will sort it out.”

Whether Norway’s decision to shield Haaland from the media was made at the club’s request or on the national team’s own initiative has not been confirmed. The move nonetheless reflects the sensitivity surrounding City’s situation at a moment when the full weight of the verdict is still being absorbed across English football.