The Norwegian national team has criticised FIFA after being forced to change hotels just days before their World Cup quarter-final against England. The team landed in Miami on Monday and were given a police escort to The Dalmar hotel in Fort Lauderdale, but after one night they moved three miles to the Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale.
Room conditions and location issues
According to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, several rooms initially assigned to players were smoky, mouldy or poorly cleaned. Head coach Stale Solbakken said the rooms were 'cleared up quickly' but noted the hotel's location next to a six-lane highway and a large construction site, with a one-hour walk to the nearest beach.
TV2's World Cup analyst Jesper Mathisen told Nettavisen: 'Yes, it is [wrong]. And as Stale Solbakken says, it is certainly possible to survive in that hotel but now they are going to play the most important match in Norwegian football history and then it is completely understandable that they want to stay in the best possible hotel.' He added there was a risk of 'little sleep and certainly also a risk of infection'.
FIFA's response praised
Despite the anger, head of delegation Truls Daehli praised FIFA's quick response. 'There were things where we stayed first that we would have liked to have thought were different,' he told TV2. 'We eventually decided to take action, because now we are in week six and will be staying here for a whole week. And the match we are going to play now is the biggest match we have ever played.'
Daehli confirmed FIFA pays for 50 rooms, security and transportation, and the team made a small adjustment as the new hotel costs more. 'We are incredibly satisfied with the way things have been responded to here,' he said.
Captain's view and Argentina precedent
Captain Martin Odegaard said: 'That there were some things that could have been better, then we fixed it really just to optimise and prepare ourselves as best as possible for a big match.'
Last week, Argentina's players stayed at The Dalmar before their last-32 game against Cape Verde in Miami but did not register any complaints. Norway play England at Miami Stadium at 10pm BST on Saturday.
