Norwegian football is shaken by a scandal after the top meeting between Viking and Rosenborg. When the final signal sounded and Viking had won with 2–1, a big brawl broke out on the pitch.
In the tumult, Swede Marcus Tjärnberg grabbed hold of the throat of Viking's star Zlatko Tripic.
”Deeply regret”
Tore Berdal, CEO of Rosenborg, describes the course of events in a statement on the club's website:
”After tonight's match between Viking and Rosenborg, a situation arose between Zlatko Tripic and Adrian Pereira, where Tripic strangled Adrian. This does not belong on a football pitch and it is up to Viking to follow up”, says Berdal.
He continues:
”After this, our coach, Marcus Tjärnberg, reacted far too strongly and took a stranglehold on Tripic. This is completely unacceptable from our side and something we as a club deeply regret. This will have consequences for Marcus and we will follow up the matter when we have all the facts on the table”.
Condemned by the head coach
Also Rosenborg's Swedish head coach Alfred Johansson distances himself from his colleague's actions.
He (Tjärnberg) tries to separate Zlatko from Adrian, but it is done in a way that is far too rough and violent. We cannot have it like that, he says to Norwegian TV2.
Referee Kristoffer Hagenes was quick to intervene and handed out two red cards in connection with the brawl.
It does not belong on a football pitch, he says to TV2.
