Norway fan refuses Viking Row celebration at World Cup

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Jul 16, 2026, 2:06 AM

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

Norway fan refuses Viking Row celebration at World Cup
Summary

Emil Lappen garnered attention at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as he sat in protest while thousands celebrated Norway's 3-2 victory over Senegal with the 'Viking Row' tradition. Lappen expressed his objections to the celebration’s origins and historical accuracy, arguing it closely resembles Iceland's 'Thunderclap'. Despite Norway reaching the quarterfinals, Lappen stated he will continue to abstain from participating in the rowing celebration and plans to watch the next match against England from home.

Source Links
By the Numbers
  • Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 last month.
  • Lappen critiqued the Viking Row for being similar to Iceland's celebration.
  • He plans to watch the upcoming match against England from home.
  • Norway is in the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time since 1998.
Latest Updates
  • 2:06 AMYahoo SportsNorway Fan Explains Why He Refused the Viking Row
What they're saying
"

Emil Lappen sat in silent protest while thousands of Norway supporters rowed around him, and he says he won't budge even if Norway wins the World Cup.

Related Teams & Leagues

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days