Bodo/Glimt beat Viking 3-2 on Friday in an Eliteserien top-of-the-table match. Both coaches were sent off shortly before halftime after a verbal altercation on the sidelines.
How the match unfolded
Bodo/Glimt went ahead in the fourth minute after Viking defender Henrik Falchener turned the ball into his own net, and Andreas Helmersen scored 15 minutes later. Viking levelled through Kristoffer Haugen and Erik Botheim. Jens Petter Hauge then scored in the 43rd minute when his shot deflected off Henrik Falchener and past the goalkeeper.
Sideline confrontation
Both coaches were sent off shortly before halftime following a verbal altercation on the sidelines. During the incident, Bodo/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen grabbed or pulled the cap worn by Viking coach Morten Jensen. The confrontation came after a tackle on Hauge by Viking's Kristoffer Askildsen, according to Reuters' match report.
What the coaches said
When they were asked about the clash during an interview with TV 2 Norway, Jensen said: "You got physical. And you’re not even going to apologize? Shouldn't you apologize to a colleague? You were physical," Knutsen replied: "You need to calm down a bit. I wasn't physical with you."
Knutsen also said: "I reacted very strongly to the tackle, and then you came into an area where you had no business being. So I pushed you away, and in the process, I hit your cap. I apologize for that," Jensen said: "That is very arrogant of you and shows a lack of class. It’s disappointing."
Captain's reaction
Bodo/Glimt captain Patrick Berg told broadcaster TV2: "It was a bit comical. We talked about it before the game, that we and the coaching team had to keep our heads cool." He added: "At least we managed it out on the field - I haven't seen the situation, but it's clear that Kjetil didn't manage it as well as we did."
