Match-fixing scandal in Norway » There are seven people arrested, including two players from the first league!
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Friday, February 27, 2026 10:06 p.m. / Updated Friday, February 27, 2026 10:12 p.m.
The octopus of fixed matches for betting has spread to northern Europe. 11 years after the last scandal of this kind, another “outbreak” broke out in Norway. Police made seven arrests, including two Eliteserien footballers from KFUM Oslo, ranked 12th last season.
Seven people have been arrested in Norway on suspicion of match-fixing, including several footballers who play in the Eliteserien, the country's top league. The arrests took place last Wednesday, as part of an investigation into aggravated corruption and fraud related to betting on football matches, as abola.pt writes.
“Prosecutor Sahd Iqbal confirmed to NRK television that, in addition to the arrests, the police also conducted searches at several addresses, an action that led to the confiscation of materials relevant to the case.
“It is serious when players are suspected of involvement in betting”
One of those arrested was brought before a judge for coercive measures and was remanded in custody. “The case is in the early stages and there are still many measures to be taken. The investigation continues at full speed and investigations are a priority,” stated Iqbal.”
Karl-Petter Loken, secretary general of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), described the situation as “unbelievable and regrettable for those involved and for the whole of Norwegian football”, and noted that so far no one has been convicted.
Loken reinforced the Federation's “zero tolerance” policy for betting on matches involving the athletes themselves: “It is particularly serious when players are suspected of direct involvement in betting, even if it is not about manipulating the final result of the game. Overall, betting rigging is one of the biggest threats to sports.”
The NFF's Independent Criminal Prosecution Committee has not yet opened a case, but admitted it will evaluate the possibility. Meanwhile, Norsk Toppfotball CEO Jens Haugland limited himself to a brief statement: “We are aware of the case but will not make any further comment. We await the police investigation.”
Defense lawyers named in the case, Jonas Berge and Usama Ahmad, were contacted by NRK but declined to comment. And the president of the Federation, Lise Klaveness, refrained from reacting to the emergence of the news.
Jens Haugland, president of Toppfotball, the Norwegian league
KFUM Oslo: “We can confirm that two of our players have been formally charged in this match-fixing case”
Dagbladet revealed that two players from KFUM Oslo in the first league are among the accused. According to this information, the footballers in question were informed the same evening. A few hours later, the club confirms that two of its players are among those involved in the match-fixing case.
“This is a matter we take very seriously. We do not have enough information to comment on the full story of this case, but we can confirm that two of our players have been charged in this case.”said KFUM Oslo general manager Thor-Erik Stenberg on the club's official website.
In 2014, Drin Shala, former goalkeeper of the Follo team, and Alban Shipshani, former striker of the Asker team, were sentenced to eight months in prison. Formose Pape Mendy (Follo) was sentenced to six months in prison for corruption and fraud.
Significant sums were bet in a short interval on two matches played on 24 June 2012. On that occasion, Follo was beaten 4-3 by Ostsiden after leading 3-0 with 25 minutes to go, and Asker lost 1-7 against Frigg Oslo, despite being considered favourites.
