Erling Haaland Sues Airline Over His Famous Hairstyle

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has filed a lawsuit against Norwegian airline Norwegian Air Shuttle over an advertisement in which the aircraft was given a hairstyle inspired by the footballer’s famous look.

Before his recent change of image, Haaland had long worn his hair tied back in a ponytail, which became one of his most recognizable features. During the World Cup, the airline posted an image on social media showing a plane edited to feature the footballer’s hairstyle.

The advertisement was accompanied by the caption: “We have never felt more Norwegian.” The post was later deleted.

Haaland, however, did not see the joke in the same light. The footballer is now seeking legal action against Norwegian, alleging that the airline violated Norway’s Marketing Control Act. A preliminary meeting involving the judge and lawyers has been scheduled for October 9, after which the case could proceed to a full hearing.

Norwegian spokesperson Katrina Sully said the airline does not understand why the post has become the basis for a lawsuit.

“Like almost everyone else in Norway, we supported the national team this summer. We simply posted some spontaneous content inspired by social media trends. It is unfortunate that this support has resulted in a lawsuit. But we hope for a constructive dialogue,” she said.

Haaland’s lawyer, Thomas Hagen, however, stressed that the case was not simply about an innocent joke.

“This case concerns Norwegian’s unlawful use of distinctive features associated with Haaland to sell airline tickets during the World Cup,” he said.

At the tournament, Haaland scored seven goals and helped Norway reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the 21st century. The team was defeated by England in the quarter-final.