Iceland's national soccer team and the association are faced with a scandal ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Germany.
Frankfurt am Main - Some time ago, the Icelandic national soccer team was regarded as a popular figure in the country around the world.
At the European Championships 2016 came as a blatant outsider, caused the greatest sensation at the EM.
Iceland's path was only over against France - but the “Vikings” then went with their heads held high.
In the meantime, the “hu”, the “battle cry” of the Icelanders and their fans, has long since given way to an outcry of indignation.
An abuse scandal including an attempted cover-up destroyed the image of the Icelandic national soccer team.
Before the World Cup qualifier against Germany under coach Hansi Flick * on Wednesday (September 8th, 2021, live on TV and in the live stream *) in Reykjavik, the leaderless association KSI is in crisis mode.
KSI President Gundi Bergsson had to resign a few days ago after allegations by two women against a national player for sexual assault.
Shortly thereafter, the board of directors followed the step of the association boss, and last Wednesday the managing director was given leave of absence.
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Serious allegations against Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.
(Archive picture 2016)
© Abedin Taherkenareh / dpa
DFB-Elf against Iceland: allegations against record scorers Kolbeinn Sigthorsson
The full extent of the scandal is still unclear.
There is now talk of several sexualized attacks by national players, and the country has been shaken.
What is certain is that the person currently accused is not just any national player.
It's about Iceland EM heroes and top scorer Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.
The now 31-year-old had given his association the greatest triumph in history with the winning goal in the sensational success in the 2016 European Championship round of 16 against England (2: 1).
Iceland |
|
capital city |
Reykjavík |
area |
103,000 km² |
resident |
356,991 (as of 2019) |
currency |
Icelandic krona |
The two women accuse Sigthorsson of sexually assaulting and molesting them in 2017.
One of the two also accuses the association of trying to silence them with money.
In the meantime, the association had to admit in a message that it had not behaved correctly.
The association apologized to the victims and Sigthorsson was removed from the squad.
DFB-Elf against Iceland: Sigthorsson is said to have paid compensation for pain and suffering
One of the alleged victims had previously told the TV broadcaster RUV that Sigthorsson grabbed her in the crotch in a nightclub in Reykjavik in September 2017 and grabbed her neck before he and another man attacked her. Both women filed charges. Sigthorsson is said to have admitted the assaults, apologized and paid pain and suffering, according to one of the two women. Later, a lawyer from the association is said to have approached her so that she would agree to a confidentiality clause in exchange for a hush money.
Bergsson now had to take his hat off because he was convicted of the lie.
He had claimed that the association had not received a "complaint or anything like that according to which someone in particular was guilty of sexual assault".
Sigthorsson himself meanwhile also spoke up.
He did not think that he had molested the woman or used violence, but his behavior was not exemplary.
He confirmed the compensation payment and stated that he regretted his behavior.
Iceland's football is in ruins
The stone had been set in motion by the Equal Opportunities Officer of the Icelandic Teachers' Association.
Hanna Björg Vilhjalmsdottir had made public that national players are repeatedly associated with domestic or sexual violence.
Nevertheless, the association protects the alleged perpetrators.
If the suspicion of further cases is actually confirmed, Iceland's football will be in ruins.
Then the sporting low of the selection not qualified for the previous European Championship finals, which are in the penultimate place in the German qualifying group * with only four points after five games, is still the slightest problem.
(skr / sid) *
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