Erling Haaland has reportedly been pulled from Norway press duties after news emerged of Manchester City's 114 financial rule breaches. The 26-year-old was scheduled to face journalists ahead of his side's Nations League clash against Portugal on Sunday, but that is seemingly no longer going to happen.
On Friday afternoon, claims were made that City had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 financial charges levelled against them by the Premier League. It is understood that the club will be appealing the decision and while the case is far from over, action looks to have been taken to protect City stars.
Haaland replaced in pre-match briefing
The extended international break is firmly underway with Haaland among those elsewhere and in the midst of preparing for another Nations League clash. Part of those preparations included being in a press conference but, according to TV2, he has been replaced for that pre-match media briefing by Benfica pair Andreas Schjelderup and Fredrik Aursnes.
Norway's media manager Morten Skjonsberg reportedly told the press that Haaland will no longer be available to speak with reporters this weekend. "We are making changes to tomorrow's press conference," the communication reportedly stated. "(Stale) Solbakken, (Fredrik) Aursnes and (Andreas) Schjelderup will be on the ground floor."
City await potential sanctions
City are now awaiting confirmation of what sanctions they may face, with the club retaining the option to challenge the verdict, which has received extensive coverage across news outlets. Consequently, City are confronting the possibility of penalties ranging from a points deduction through to potential removal from the Premier League.
Haaland, who scored twice in Norway's 3-2 triumph over Denmark earlier this week, has already made his feelings clear on the case. "I spoke with the bosses, and in the end, I believe them," he told TIME Magazine last July. "It's such a tricky situation for me to even sit there and speak about, because I wasn't really involved in it. So I think the club knows what they're doing. They will sort it out."
Club statement and Premier League silence
The Premier League have refused to comment publicly on the matter but City released a statement in the wake of the guilty verdict. Via a spokesperson, that said: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.
"As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023. The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence."
