sports
Norway reaches World Cup quarterfinals after 3-2 win; fan declines rowing celebration
Emil Lappen declined to join Norway supporters in the rowing gesture following a group-stage victory over Senegal. He cited historical inaccuracy and similarity to an Iceland fan ritual. Norway advanced to its first World Cup quarterfinal.
Jul 10, 1:24 PM·1m read1 source
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Norway fan Emil Lappen declined to join the team's supporters in a rowing celebration after a 3-2 group-stage victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium. nypost.com reported that Lappen called the gesture stupid and historically inaccurate because Vikings sailed rather than rowed across the Atlantic. Lappen told Sky News that the motion copied Iceland's Thunderclap ritual from prior tournaments.
He added that the change in motion was intended only to elicit the same crowd reaction. "They can win whatever they want, I will not row," he said. Norway reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, its first appearance at that stage and its best result since 1998.
Fans performed the rowing gesture after the Senegal match, and forward Erling Haaland joined teammates in the celebration on the field. Lappen said he would watch Norway's quarterfinal match against England from home without participating in the ritual.
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