Agnes Nærland Viljugrein has been a Vålerenga supporter for several years and can often be seen in the Østblokka field at Intility Arena. The 25-year-old was also present when Vålerenga took on Tromsø on Sunday 21 August. The match went relatively well and Vålerenga won 1–0 after Stefan Strandberg scored. After the match, however, there was a bigger discussion on Twitter. During the match, several VIF supporters are said to have tried to start singing the song from “Sámiid ædnan”, Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix winner from 1980. Viljugrein was one of those who spoke about the incident on Twitter after the match: Agnes Nærland Viljugrein expressed disappointment after Vålerenga’s match against Tromsø on 21 August. Photo: Screenshot Twitter – You hear that it is being started from a number of people, while at the same time there are many who are actively trying to stop it and speak out. But there are more who continue anyway, she says to news. Agnes Nærland Viljugrein is a keen VIF supporter. Now she hopes the club will give up on fighting. Photo: Privat Viljugrein says that she became angry and upset and that inciting Sami in that way is not something Vålerenga can stand for. – I think it is racist and obvious that you try to ridicule an indigenous population for talking negatively about a football team. VIF has a lot of good shouts and cool things we could spend our time on, so I think it’s so damn unnecessary to go on like this, she elaborates. Does not contribute to reconciliation Sigbjørn Skåden is a Sámi writer and in 2020 took a stand with Sámi unity in football. – One of the clearest experiences I have is when TIL played an away match against Vålerenga and everyone in the stands started to cheer when VIF took a 2-0 lead. It is humiliating that this is what you have to point to as an explanation for Tromsø doing poorly, that you are just “some poor Sami”, Skåden told news at the time. When the debate got rolling again after the end of the match on Sunday, there were several who advocated that the joking could be compared to when Lillestrøm are called farmers. Skåden does not agree with that comparison. – The power play between the Sami and the Norwegian population is something completely different from the urban and rural relationship within Norwegian society. Skåden points out that there is a truth and reconciliation commission that works to map abuses committed against, among other things, the Sami in order to create a certain reconciliation in Norwegian society. – The VIF fans do not contribute to that reconciliation, so to speak. He is also one of several who believe it is wrong for the club to market itself as “Vålerenga against racism”. – They are good at inclusion work around immigrants. But here they simply get beaten up. It is a scratch in the paint and a big paradox for a club that believes it is doing anti-racist work. Not krenkekhsteri Tromsø supporter Marius Helgå was also at the match. He says that the away party did not catch the joking itself, but that this debate has been discussed for a long time. – I have heard that they have started the joik from “Sámiid ædnan” many times before, and every time it gets criticism. But it doesn’t seem like they take the criticism as a group to heart. Marius Helgå has previously taken up Vålerenga’s banter on social media. Photo: Screen dump Twitter Helgå thinks that someone thinks this is part of a krenke hysteria is wrong. – I believe that it cannot be the sender who defines what is offensive or not. Viljugrein also believes it would be wrong to call it krenkehsterie. – I think there are a thousand other good ways to talk up your own team, and it is also up to these other clubs in better ways. We don’t need to incite vulnerable indigenous people in Norway to do that. Should be able to put the song away Supporter leader in Forza Tromsø, Morten Killingberg, is aware that the debate surrounding this particular song is inflamed. He himself has heard it sung by VIF supporters for many years. – Everyone is aware that incitement by the Sami is a social problem today, and if that song in the stadium contributes to increasing the problem, that is something we also want to get rid of, says Killingberg to news. Morten Killingberg in Forza Tromsø thinks the song should be able to be deleted. Photo: Privat Killingberg clarifies that he himself has not experienced the song as something made to incite. – But I think that through the debate that has taken place in recent years, perhaps people’s opinion about the joik has changed. – Our opinion as a supporters’ club is that you should respect different opinions and if there are many people who feel offended by the song, we also completely agree that you should be able to put it away. Should and should die out Trond Larsen is the spokesperson for Vålerenga’s supporter club Klanen and tells news that the song has been dying for a long time. – At Intility this Sunday, none of the usual song starters started the singing. It originated out on the wing, got no traction and died out quite quickly. – Every time it is heard in the stands there are comments on social media, and that is perfectly fine. Because then, slowly but surely, it will disappear, he says. Tale Ellingvåg asked the VIF fans to stop booing at matches. Photo: Screenshot Twitter Larsen completely agrees with the critics who point out that Vålerenga contradicts itself by using Vålerenga against racism as a slogan. – It is not possible to say that we are against racism, and we keep to that song. It doesn’t connect. Skåden is happy that the internal supporter environment of VIF has advocated for the song to be removed. – It’s nice to hear that they are starting to have an internal conversation about it, after all. It is the start of something, one can hope.
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Want an end to banter at football matches – news Nordland
