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🇳🇴 Norway /Sports

Frank Løke’s biggest controversy: “I take the blame”

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Former Norwegian handball player Frank Løke will face Kai Robin Havnaa in an exhibition boxing match in Arendal on Saturday.
  • Løke discusses his expulsion from Norway’s national team during the 2011 World Championship after he breached team alcohol rules and entered Spanish goalkeeper José Javier Hombrados’ room.
  • He was later removed from the television show “Dancing with the Stars” after appearing on the dance floor in a Borat costume without notifying the broadcaster.

Frank Løke says his most notorious controversy began at the 2011 handball world championship, when he ended up naked in the bed of Spain’s goalkeeper, José Javier Hombrados. Fifteen years later, Løke says he takes responsibility for what happened.

I take the blame for that. The Danes should be damn glad that I sabotaged it, that I helped them move on.

· Frank LøkeLøke referred to the controversy he considers possibly the biggest of his life.

Norway had beaten Germany in the knockout stage when Løke broke the national team’s alcohol rules and was sent home. He says he accepted criticism for not returning to his own bed that night, but instead going to Hombrados’ room. Løke said he appeared naked with his genitals in the Spanish goalkeeper’s face. “There was contact,” he told VG.

Spain lost its semifinal to Sweden the following day and went on to win bronze. Løke says the Spanish coach and federation were angry because they believed the incident had damaged the team’s chance of reaching the final. He has not spoken with Hombrados since. Hombrados told VG that it was not ideal for several players to enter his room shortly before a match, but added that what happens at a championship stays at the championship.

There was contact.

· Frank LøkeHe described the encounter with Spanish goalkeeper José Javier Hombrados during the 2011 championship.

The incident ended Løke’s Norway career. He later continued playing handball until 2016 and was named the world’s best line player in 2008 and 2012. In 2018, he was again expelled from a television program after appearing on “Dancing with the Stars” in a Borat costume without clearing it with TV 2.

What happens at a championship stays at the championship.

· José Javier HombradosHombrados commented on the incident years later, while acknowledging that players entering his room before a match was not ideal.

Løke, now 46, will meet Kai Robin Havnaa in a show fight in Pollen, Arendal. He says he has a small circle of people he trusts and does not seek approval from everyone else. “I have been a bit of a bad boy on the national team, and I was thrown out. I could probably have been more serious off the court,” he told VG.

I have been a bit of a bad boy on the national team, and I was thrown out. I could probably have been more serious off the court.

· Frank LøkeLøke reflected on his conduct during and after his national-team career.
About this summary

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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