How to Ruin a Religious Celebration, by Espen Nystuen

By: Daryl | July 1st, 2009

This is quite the coincidence. Just a few seconds after publishing this post about whether footballers should be allowed to celebrate with relgious gestures, I find this related story on The Spoiler about a religious celebration turned controversy in Norway.

Bosnian attacker Admir Raščić has scored for Sandefjord against Strømsgodset, and was doing the head-bowed-to-the-floor Islamic prayer celebration with teammate Fenan Salčinović (same celebration you may have seen Egyptian players doing at the Confederations Cup recently).

But their Sandefjord teammate (and – believe it or not – captain) Espen Nystuen thought it would be funny to sneak up behind Salčinović mid-celebration and… well, as the Sporten 2 TV website says “The rapid hip movements speak for themselves.”

Neither Raščić nor Salčinović were aware of what had happened at the time (Nystuen wasn’t in a rush to confess) but found out about it later. Raščić wasn’t too worried, but Salčinović is more religious and was apparently more than a little angry. “When I got to see it on the Internet later in the evening, I was upset,” Salčinović said to VG Nett.

Here’s Nystuen’s pretty poor attempt at an apology afterwards:

“I fell for temptation. How wise it was negotiable. This is not something I’ve done before. I want to emphasize that I am heterosexual. I hope that people realize that it was a joke.”

Yes Espen. Because the big issue here is that people might think you’re gay. Do they give captain’s armbands to just anyone in Norway?

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: Europe

Tags: Admir Raščić, celebration, Espen Nystuen, Europe, Fenan Salčinović, Norway, prayer, Sandefjord, World Football, World Soccer

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Comments   |  Add your comment

• Andre |  July 1st, 2009 at 10:37 am

  
  
  

  I dunno, I thought it was pretty funny. I think if you bring your religion out on the pitch with you, you have to accept that it may be toyed with by people who may not agree with you.

  I’m sure if Mr. Nystuen was religious and someone messed with him, he’d be fine. Of course, 90% of the country is Atheist, so…

  Posted from United States

  

• Aqill |  July 1st, 2009 at 12:29 pm

  
  
  

  It’s not the first time they have celebrated like this so Nystuen should know better. I would have been filled with fury towards that little f*cker.

  Posted from United States

  

• Jem |  July 1st, 2009 at 2:23 pm

  
  
  

  my co-workers in surrounding cubicles are wondering why i just laughed out loud right now…

  Posted from United States

  

• Laurie |  July 1st, 2009 at 3:06 pm

  
  
  

  So incredibly…wrong. And yet so hysterical.

  Posted from United States

  

• Dhaw |  July 1st, 2009 at 3:21 pm

  
  
  

  Who let the dog’s out ? Who Who

  Posted from United States

  

• Juan |  July 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 am

  
  
  

  “Do they give captain’s armbands to just anyone in Norway?”

  Yes.

  Posted from United States

  

• Al |  July 2nd, 2009 at 6:34 am

  
  
  

  Tee hee… l’il pitch quickie never hurt anyone- tee hee…

  Posted from United States

  

• Matteo |  July 2nd, 2009 at 7:52 am

  
  
  

  LOL.. my cubicle neighbors are asking what’s so funny!

  Maybe they should keep that kind of thing for the locker room or hotel room and not in front thousands of fans and the interwebs?

  Posted from Canada

  

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