Norwegian international Andreas Schjelderup has received a 14-day suspended sentance in Denmark following his conviction for sharing illicit content, a case that has drawn scrutiny amid his ongoing career with Benfica and the Norwegian national team.The 21-year-old forward appeared in court Wednesday for the offense, which involved sharing a 27-second video depicting sexually explicit content involving minors, according to Danish media reports. Benfica manager José Mourinho addressed the verdict Thursday, emphasizing the need for Schjelderup to learn from his mistake.
Norwegian international Andreas Schjelderup has received a 14-day suspended sentence in Denmark after sharing a video containing sexually explicit content involving minors.
“He Made a Mistake”
Benfica manager José Mourinho addressed the verdict against the young forward for the first time on Thursday afternoon.
“Schjelderup made a mistake. He went to court, and he was convicted. It’s not a conviction that prevents him from practicing his profession,” Mourinho told reporters during a press conference ahead of Benfica’s cup match against Atletico CP.
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Mourinho expressed hope that Schjelderup will learn from the incident.
“And for someone who has made a mistake, who has accepted that they made a mistake, who has fully accepted the conviction, it’s an important step for them to feel that they cannot forget what they did. And the conviction ensures that they don’t forget. They must continue with their lives, be less naive than before, learn from a negative experience that marks and always will mark them. You must continue to grow as a person,” Mourinho said, according to Record.
Benfica declined to comment on the ruling when contacted by Nettavisen on Wednesday through the club’s press department.
Received Playing Time with National Team
Schjelderup’s lawyer, Anders Nemeth, requested a suspended sentence for his client. He indicated to Nettavisen and other media outlets on Wednesday that they are not yet considering an appeal. Schjelderup did not speak to the press after the verdict was delivered.
The plea hearing in Copenhagen on Wednesday was scheduled for 45 minutes.
Schjelderup first revealed on social media last weekend that he was expecting a conviction for an offense in the near future. Danish media quickly reported that the case stemmed from him sharing a 27-second video containing sexually explicit content involving children.
Shortly after, Norway played crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Estonia and Italy, ultimately securing their place in the tournament. Schjelderup was part of the squad and even saw playing time in the home match against Estonia. The qualification was a significant achievement for the national team, and Schjelderup’s involvement, despite the looming legal issue, added another layer to the story.
