Benfica and Norway international Andreas Schjelderup has revealed that he expects to be convicted for sharing an illegal video involving minors. Below you will see inormation about this news which has been summarized The Football Insight.
The incident happened two years ago when he was only 19, and he now admits he made a “stupid mistake.” Authorities in Denmark contacted him earlier this year, and he has been cooperating fully ever since. The situation became public just after the winger was selected for Norway’s World Cup qualifiers.
Benfica’s president Rui Costa has shared support for the player, noting his clear regret over what happened. Still, the case has cast a shadow over both his club and country duties. Schjelderup stressed that he understands the seriousness of the matter today, even though he didn’t realize it at the time. He says he is prepared to accept whatever punishment the legal system decides.
How the Incident Happened
Schjelderup explained the incident clearly in a long Instagram statement. He says he forwarded a video to a friend without paying attention to the full content. He claims he only saw the first few seconds and believed it was a meme, something he often shared with friends. When his friend quickly warned him that the clip was illegal, he deleted it right away.
At the time, he didn’t think about the consequences or the fact that forwarding the clip counted as distributing illegal content. Now, he says he fully recognizes the seriousness and harm such material can cause. He describes the act as a one-time mistake, not something he would ever knowingly do. But he knows intention does not erase responsibility, and that is why he wants to be open about it.
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Likely Conviction and Responsibility
Schjelderup announced that he has been officially charged and expects a conviction soon. Reports suggest he will receive a suspended sentence, meaning he won’t go to jail but the offense will stay on record. He says he has been shocked throughout the process, having never been in trouble with the law before.
He wants others especially young people to understand that sharing any content without thinking can have major legal consequences. While the charge does not represent who he is as a person, he knows he must face the outcome and rebuild trust with fans and teammates.
Public Apology and Moving Forward
In his statement, the 21-year-old apologized directly to anyone affected by the video. He also apologized to his family, Benfica, the Norway national team, and fans who believed in him. He says this situation is embarrassing and painful, but hiding from it would be worse. The timing of the announcement adds pressure to Norway during a crucial qualification period.
Schjelderup said he originally hoped to reveal the news after the matches to avoid distraction but felt he no longer had that option. He ended by urging everyone not to share harmful content and promised to do everything he can to make things right again showing this mistake will not define his future. Follow footballcoasters.co.uk for weekly deep dives into football’s biggest story.