Lena Selnes, the girlfriend of Norway striker Alexander Sorloth, has spoken out after receiving a barrage of hateful comments on social media following England's World Cup quarter-final victory over Norway on Saturday. The 4-1 extra-time win saw England advance, but the abuse directed at Sorloth and his family has overshadowed the result.
Abuse on Instagram
Selnes posted a screenshot on her Instagram story showing seven abusive notifications, including multiple messages urging Sorloth to commit suicide and telling both of them to kill themselves. She wrote: "The World Cup and football bring a lot of joy, but also a lot of hate. I don't really want to give it any attention, but feel the need to after comments like this:"
She concluded: "Hope everyone can think a little extra before making such comments, regardless of the situation," adding a handshake and red heart emoji.
Match Context
Sorloth, who plays for Atletico Madrid and previously for Crystal Palace, started all but one of Norway's matches in the tournament. The exception was a 4-1 loss to France when manager Stale Solbakken overhauled his lineup. During the quarter-final, Sorloth rotated with Fulham's Oscar Bobb, coming on midway through the second half. He was not on the pitch when England scored the winning goals in extra time.
Despite his limited involvement, Sorloth was at the center of a controversial moment just before half-time. With Norway leading 1-0, he and Erling Haaland were two-on-one against John Stones, with Declan Rice and Nico O'Reilly tracking back. Instead of passing to Haaland, Sorloth dribbled and was crowded out by England defenders, blocking the shot. Many observers cited this as a turning point.
Sorloth's Explanation
After the match, Sorloth explained his decision: "I take a touch and look up, and then I see that Stones blocks that pass. Then I take another touch, and that is too bad. I wait for him to make a move instead of me making him make a move." He added: "The only thing I want in that situation there is to pass to Erling. Then it feels like that pass isn't there, and then I go for the shot."
Broader Issue
Selnes' statement highlights the ongoing problem of online abuse in football. Norway players have faced significant harassment on social media since their elimination, with the team's World Cup run ending in the quarter-finals. The incident has sparked calls for stronger action against hateful comments online.
