On Tuesday, the Norwegian national football team is set to face Israel in the World Championship qualifier away, a match that will be played in Hungary. Meetings with the nation currently at war have been seen as controversial in Norway, and have also sparked large discussions.
In recent days, nearly 1,000 people have been killed in Israel's nighttime attacks on Gaza, according to reports from Hamas-affiliated authorities.
Ståle Solbakken has been affected by the reports and images from the Gaza Strip.
This has affected us in the same way as you. These are catastrophic images, he says at a press conference.
"I have my opinion"
No matter what I say now, someone will say it's wrong. I have my opinion and clear perception of it, he continues.
The Norwegian Football Association's stance on the conflict, he says, will be presented by Chairman Lise Klaveness. However, a boycott of the upcoming matches is not currently an option.
In my and the association's opinion, a boycott from Norway will not help anyone. That discussion is clear. Then I understand that someone who has been affected would see it as a very strong signal and a powerful tool, but we have decided this, says Solbakken.
The match must be played
The Football Association's Chairman Lise Klaveness supports the Støre government's demand for an immediate stop to the fighting on the Gaza Strip, but emphasizes that the Israel match must be played.
We must work principled on these issues. For us, we are now in a situation where the match must be played. We are not unaffected by this terrible event, and we do not want to be unaffected by it either. We should just be honest that it's a difficult situation, she says to NRK.
Some who have been most vocal in their criticism of the matches against Israel are the "Action Group for Palestine".
It's completely absurd that they're not boycotting the match, says spokesperson Rami Samandar to NRK.
