Erling Haaland U-turn made after Man City found guilty of Premier League charges

Erling Haaland has been withdrawn from Norway’s press conference on Saturday (Nordnes Foto/Getty)

Erling Haaland has been withdrawn from Norway’s press conference this weekend following the news that Manchester City have been found guilty of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules.

On Friday, it emerged that City have been found guilty on all but one of the Premier League’s 115 charges following a decision by an independent panel.

City, who deny any wrongdoing, were initially charged in February 2023 with breaking financial regulations over a nine-year period, dating from 2009 to 2018.

The Premier League has not yet decided on the sanctions, while City are expected to appeal the verdict as they could face a significant points deduction, a financial penalty or even relegation from the top flight.

Haaland, who was signed by City in a £51.2 million deal from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, is away with Norway’s national team for the international break.

The 26-year-old scored twice in Norway’s 3-2 win over Denmark this week and was due to appear at a press conference with the national team in Oslo on Saturday morning.

But in light of City’s guilty verdict, Norway announced on Friday that Haaland will not be speaking to the media and the striker has been replaced by Fredrik Aursnes and Andreas Schjelderup for the press conference alongside head coach Stale Solbakken.

Norway play Portugal in their next Nations League game on Sunday evening.

Haaland, meanwhile, signed a long-term contract extension with City 20 months ago which keeps him tied to the Etihad Stadium until 2034.

Speaking a year ago, Haaland said that he had been assured by City that the club were not guilty of the Premier League’s charges.