‘It Is Strange to Play’ After the King’s Death

Hans Erik Ødegaard said it felt wrong to move from memorial ceremonies for King Harald V directly into a competitive football match just two days after the monarch’s death.

“I think this is wrong. I do not think any round should have been played, considering everything that is happening,” the Lillestrøm coach told Norwegian broadcaster TV 2 before his team faced Fredrikstad.

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I think this is wrong. I do not think any round should have been played, considering everything that is happening.

Saturday’s matches had been moved to Sunday following the king’s death. At stadiums, players, coaches and referees paid tribute with a minute of silence or applause, flags flew at half-mast, and participants formed the letter H in the center circle.

Ødegaard said the timing still seemed contradictory. “Going from memorial ceremonies to football matches where we have to fight for every ball seems strange to me. I do not understand why it was respectful not to play yesterday, but respectful to play today,” he said.

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Going from memorial ceremonies to football matches where we have to fight for every ball seems strange to me. I do not understand why it was respectful not to play yesterday, but respectful to play today.

He added that he would attend when the match began, like everyone else, but expected it to feel unusual. Lillestrøm lost the match to Fredrikstad 4-1 at home.

Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation, said the decision was made out of respect for the royal family and in consultation with clubs and sports organizations. “We respect that there are different views. There is no single solution to grief,” she said.

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We respect that there are different views. There is no single solution to grief.