The 374 supporters who traveled all the way north of the Arctic Circle to Bodø in Norway for this week’s UEFA Champions League match—in which the English powerhouses lost to relative underdogs Bod and Glimt 3-1—will receive their tickets back.
Bodø/Glimt, one of the most northern professional football teams in the world, defeated one of the wealthiest teams in the world and one of the favorites to win the Champions League in an unexpected triumph. Following a defeat that star striker Erling Haaland described as shameful, City will make an apologetic gesture to the tiny group of supporters that traveled midweek.
Haaland, together with veteran players Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Ruben Dias, made the decision on behalf of City’s leadership group. The players said in a statement that they will help pay for these fans’ tickets.
“Our supporters mean everything to us. We know the sacrifice that our fans make when they travel across the world to support us home and away, and we will never take it for granted. They are the best fans in the world,” read City’s statement.
“We also recognize that it was a lot of travelling for the fans who supported us in the freezing cold throughout a difficult evening for us on the pitch. Covering the cost of these tickets for the fans who travelled to Bodo is the least we can do,” it continued.
Haaland accepts accountability and hits teammates.
Kasper Høgh’s goal in the 22nd minute gave Bodø an unexpected early lead at their home stadium in northern Norway. In less than two minutes, he would increase the advantage, leaving the English squad stunned in the bitter cold.
After halftime, it was 3-0, and while Rayan Cherki managed to bring one back at the hour mark, Rodri, a crucial midfielder, was sent off shortly after, ending any chance of a rally.
Haaland would not hold back on his teammates after their loss in his country of origin: “I just apologize to everyone—every single Man City supporter and every single supporter that traveled today—because in the end it’s embarrassing,” he said after the match.
City’s season is still lacking, and in recent weeks it has abruptly become ugly. Due to a string of injuries over the past two or three weeks, City has been kept to draws by Chelsea and Brighton. Over the weekend, rivals Manchester United played them off the field in a rivalry match.
Although City is still in a strong position in the Champions League standings and has a good chance of making it straight to the round of 16, this defeat raises the possibility that they may need to go through an extra playoff round. This is good news for both their Champions League rivals and Premier League leaders Arsenal.
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