Huge scandal in Norway’s first-division as video shows goalkeeper sneakily narrowing his goalposts prior to kick-off.
Former Brentford keeper, Patrik Gunnarsson, has seemingly been caught out trying to gain an unfair advantage over his team’s opponents in their last two home games.
The 21-year-old Icelandic stopper plies his trade for Viking FK, who currently occupy third spot in the Eliteserien (Norway’s Premier League equivalent).
It was when the club welcomed Jerv and HamKan to the SR-Bank Arena that the allegedly sly deed was carried out.
Gunnarsson tries a cheeky trick
In the video, Gunnarsson can be seen waiting for the assistant referee to complete his mandatory pre-match checks around the goalmouth, before then casually pulling and kicking the posts ever so slightly inwards.
The Norwegian outlet, Aftenbladet, estimate that the actions would have shortened the total width of the posts by between 15-20 centimeters and gained Viking a significant advantage over their opponents.
The footage they’ve released has generated quite the response amongst Norwegian nationals as they debate whether this was an intentionally devious act, and whether in fact, it did grant such a distinct advantage.
Gunnarsson has played down the whole ordeal, remarking that, it’s nothing more than a little pre-match superstition he has.
“It’s just a pre-match ritual I have before the matches.” Gunnarsson responded to the claims.
“Which makes me feel comfortable. It’s no more than that. I just kick the bars a little.”
Whatever you say, Patrik…
Gunnarsson In The Headlines Yet Again
It’s not the first time the stopper has been in the headlines this year either.
Back in November, Gunnarsson went viral for getting his own man sent off in the 95th minute of a game.
Viking had come from two goals behind against Kristiansund to be leading the game 3-2 in the closing stages.
A 93rd minute winner had clearly gotten everyone’s adrenaline pumping and it all boiled over as Gunnarsson and David Brekalo clashed in the final stages.
Brekalo shoved his teammate twice in the chest amidst the altercation, and on the second time of asking, Gunnarsson dropped to the floor theatrically clutching his face as if to suggest he had been punched.
Needless to say, Brekalo was sent off – strange one.
