Norwegian midfielder Mathias Norman spent several years in Russian football, but left conflicting impressions about himself. A promising player in the spring of 2022 publicly stated his reluctance to return to Russia. And a few months later he was carefree kicking the ball in the RPL, for which he was even excommunicated from the national team. At the end of last season, Mathias fled abroad, essentially breaking his contract unilaterally.

It was not easy to count on the goodwill of FIFA – the organization itself blessed foreigners to leave the Russian championship. But this time in Zurich they stood up for the Russian club.

The cowardly legionnaire will pay for his escape.

“I don’t want to return to Russia”

Norwegian football player Mathias Norman moved to Russia in January 2019. The ex-Brighton player cost Rostov 1.7 million euros. Playing under Valery Karpin helped the midfielder’s professional growth. He made his debut in the national team of his country, played well in the RPL, being included in the list of 33 best football players in the Russian championship. As a result, Mathias’s market value during his time with the “yellow-blues,” according to Transfermarkt, increased from 400 thousand euros to 13 million.

Some experts believed that Norman had outgrown the RPL and predicted success for him in strong European leagues. In the summer of 2021, the Norwegian actually ended up in the English Premier League – Norwich rented the midfielder and in the future was not averse to buying him out. The newcomer was unable to demonstrate any crazy results, and he also missed part of the season due to injury. But the footballer himself did not hesitate to declare in the spring of 2022 that he did not want to return to Russia.

— Of course, I don’t want to return to Russia. I’ll just do what I’m planning to do until the summer, and then we’ll see. Maybe I’m thinking too much about what’s going to happen in the summer. If we can turn the tide against Norwich and stay in the English Premier League, that will be the best thing. But there is a question, what will happen to my contract in Russia if Norwich are relegated to the Championship? – TV2 quoted Norman.

Matthias Normann / Photo: © Stephen Pond / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

“Enemy of the Norwegian People”

Norwich eventually took last place in the Premier League and went to the Championship, no matter how Norman feared such an outcome. The Norwegian himself, a few months after his own categorical statements, suddenly showed up in Russia, although not in Rostov, but in Dynamo, which rented the midfielder.

This, of course, looked strange, given that a significant part of the foreign players left our country with the blessing of FIFA. The President of the Norwegian Football Association, Lise Klaveness, on the eve of Mathias’ return to Russia, even stated that he could no longer represent Norway at the international level. But something forced the Norwegian footballer to play another dozen and a half matches in the Russian championship.

— To put it simply, Norman’s motivation for returning to Russia is money. When he left, he presented it in such a way that he could no longer be here. Apparently, the money outweighed him so much that the guy is ready to abandon the national team and become an enemy of the Norwegian people, football agent Timur Gurtskaya suggested in a conversation with the Championship.

Photo: © Denis Bushkovsky / Match TV

True, the period at Dynamo could not be called particularly successful: Norman was out for some time due to injury, and he was never able to please the fans of the “blue and white” with goals. Nevertheless, Matias started the new season in Russia and even spent one half in the opening round game of the MIR RPL. After another training session, the player said goodbye to his partners, promised to see him the next day, but instead ran away, unilaterally terminating the agreements with Dynamo and Rostov.

“Unreasonable termination”

Norman explained his behavior with fear for his life, but Dynamo and Rostov did not agree that Matias did the right thing. Firstly, he was offered to change his place of residence. Secondly, he simply did not have the right to give up everything and run away without paying compensation.

Quite quickly after his escape, the Norwegian materialized in Saudi Arabia, where he signed a contract with Al-Raed. But while local clubs paid exorbitant amounts of money for some other foreigners, Norman cost the new team for free. In Russia, this situation did not suit anyone; complaints followed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. A successful decision could not be guaranteed, but in mid-November good news came for the Rostovites.

— On November 15, a meeting of the FIFA football tribunal was held in the case of Rostov, Al-Raed and the player Matthias Norman. The player was found guilty of early unjustified termination of the contract. The court ordered Norman to pay compensation to Rostov. “Al-Raed” is jointly and severally liable for this payment,” the Rostov press service reported.

Considering that FIFA has not been very favorable towards our football lately, the precedent cannot but rejoice. Now skittish players and their new clubs will have to think twice before trying to cheat any Russian club out of money.