Photo: Bildbyrån
Leo Östigård scored against Sweden – and celebrated with a scornful gesture.
Afterwards, he explained why.
– It was a small tribute to Petter Northug, he says.
When Sweden and Norway met last week, the match was marred by various taunts. During the match, midfielder Alexander Milosevic really ended up in the hood of superstar Erling Haaland, and afterwards a big fight broke out between Sweden and Norway.
Scornful celebration
But during the match, Haaland also chose to mock the Swedish fans after one of his two goals, and before the return meeting in Norway, the psych war was well underway. And during the match, it continued in exactly the same theme.
Erling Haaland scored two new goals against Sweden, which was perhaps not so surprising, but all the more surprising was that midfielder Leo Östigård had to net. He then chose to celebrate by turning to the Swedish fans, with a gesture in front of his face. If you are interested in cross-country skiing, it is a familiar gesture, as it is exactly the gesture that Petter Northug often did to Swedish skiers.
Explains the gesture
And afterwards, Östigård confirmed that it was very much a tribute to Petter Northug.
– It’s a small tribute to Northug. Since I saw him beat Calle Halfvarsson so… It’s a tribute to Northug, he says to NRK.
In the Swedish camp it was upset, and Emil Forsberg answered scornfully when he was asked about it all afterwards.
– I do not even know who he is, Forsberg says to Expressen.
Afterwards, he developed for NRK:
– It’s boring. If it is against the Swedish fans, there is no reason for it. But it is what it is. They won the match and are happy.
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