Champions League footballer charged by police over illegal video

He is set to be convicted 'in the near future'

The 21-year-old posted a statement on Instagram in which he admitted to a making "stupid mistake" while he was playing his football in Norway two years ago.

The news comes after Schjelderup was named in Norway's squad for next week's international fixtures.

He claims to have received a video and shared it with a friend before realising its full illegal contents. As soon as he became aware he says he deleted it.

The statement reads: "What I did in Denmark at that time was illegal and not OK. I will take full responsibility for it.

"I would like to apologise first and foremost to those affected by the video. Then to my friends, family, employers, country and all the fans I have disappointed.

"I wish I could go back in time and change my mistake. I have never done anything illegal before, or been involved with the police, so I have been in shock for a long time while this has been going on."

The exact contents of the video have not been revealed, but the player said it contained "what appeared to be two young men in an old-quality video," before adding that he "only saw the first few seconds and not what the video developed into".

He says he has fully co-operated with Danish police over the matter and expects to receive a conviction "in the near future" which is reportedly likely to be a suspended sentence.

Schjelderup's statement comes after reports in the Danish press that an unnamed player had been charged by police with an offence which concerns possession or sharing of sexual material which features people under the age of 18.

The forward has been backed and supported by both his club Benfica and the Norway national side, although Norway head coach Stale Solbakken did describe the Schjelderup's actions as "an incredibly foolish thing".

It remains to be seen how the conviction may affect Schjelderup's playing career.