– Unacceptable behavior – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule

– It is not everyday to experience this, says chief judge Veronika Fjeldvær to NRK.

The chaos started with Karina Sævik running along the line with the ball and an opponent behind her. The TV images showed that at one point the ball was out, and then something unusual happened.

Sævik ran on, but at the same time Stabæk coach Jan Jönsson ran onto the pitch and stopped the Vålerenga player with his body.

Then it exploded on the bench and Jönsson was shown the red card.

Soon after, he appeared to attempt to hug the fourth official:

He believes the hug was for conciliatory reasons:

– I wanted to apologize, says Jönsson to NRK.

– Unacceptable behaviour

The referees of the top series match – including the fourth referee who was tried to be hugged by the Stabæk coach – react strongly to the incident.

– I think it’s a behavior we don’t need to have on the football pitch, says fourth referee Marit Skurdal.

– Jönsson runs onto the field after the ball has gone out of play, this automatically results in a red card. He is not allowed to do that. He reacts and gives a kind of hug, that is not acceptable behaviour, says chief judge Veronika Fjeldvær to NRK.

The head judge says that they will take this further.

– We report the red card, then it is up to the association to follow it up further, says Fjeldvær to NRK.

– Maybe I won’t be there

Stabæk coach Jan Jönsson explains the situation with Sævik as follows:

– It was overtime and I’m trying to get hold of the ball to get a quick throw-in. The ball had been clearly out and I went a meter out onto the field to catch it. I wanted to get the game going. It was overtime and Vålerenga kicked the ball away so that time would run out, he says to NRK.

– I have not dealt with a Vålerenga player and a Vålerenga player has not dealt with me. I went a meter outside of where I was supposed to be, to get the game going again.

– Did you go somewhere you shouldn’t be?

– Yes, it is possible that I will not be there, says Jönsson.

According to Jönsson, Vålerenga must have agreed that a yellow card would have been enough for the situation.

Also became a goal hero

The match itself on the pitch ended 3–2 to Vålerenga, and both Sævik and Iris Omarsdottir scored their fourth of the season. The match was originally to be played in September, but was brought forward to facilitate Vålerenga’s participation in the championship qualification.

With Tuesday’s victory, Vålerenga and Rosenborg are at the top with twelve points, but VIF has a better goal difference. Røa then follows with nine.

Vålerenga’s home win on Tuesday came after scores by Olaug Tvedten, Ylinn Tennebø and Sævik, who scored his fourth goal of the season. For the guests, striker talent Omarsdottir was responsible for both netizens. The 20-year-old, like Sævik, has scored four times this season.

Stabæk has six points after two wins and three losses so far. Vålerenga have a bid against Lyn this weekend, while Stabæk will be visited by Brann.