Norwegian striker Alexander Sørloth and his girlfriend Lena Selnes received death threats after a 2-1 World Cup loss to England.
Sports are supposed to be about passion and fun. But for one young family, a simple mistake on the field has turned into a scary nightmare of violent threats.
WHAT HAPPENED
Norway lost 2-1 to England in a major World Cup match. During the game, striker Alexander Sørloth chose to shoot the ball instead of passing to superstar Erling Haaland. He missed, and England scored soon after to win the game.
Since the loss, Sørloth's social media has been flooded with over 100,000 angry comments. The attacks quickly spread to his partner, Lena Selnes. She received messages telling the couple to jump off cliffs and threatening their lives.
Sørloth said he wanted to pass but saw a defender block the way. He admitted he made a poor choice and feels heavy-hearted about the loss.
FACT BOX
- Final Score: England 2, Norway 1.
- Key Moment: The missed pass happened in the 44th minute of the match.
- Hate Mail: More than 100,000 angry comments hit the player's social media accounts.
- Targeted Family: Sørloth's girlfriend and their two kids were also targeted with death threats.
WHY IT MATTERS
This shows a dark trend where online sports talk turns into real-world danger. Players are treated like targets for hate instead of humans playing a game.
It also hurts families who have done nothing wrong. When partners and kids get threats, it crosses a line from sports debate into abuse.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Norway's team must go home after being knocked out of the tournament. The players will have to deal with the heavy mental toll of the abuse.
Websites may face more pressure to block people who send death threats. Soccer groups are also speaking out to protect their players.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- Will police find and arrest the people who sent the threats?
- How will this abuse affect Sørloth's future on the team?
- What will online platforms do to stop these attacks?
Transparency notes
Published: Jul 13, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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