Haaland Sues Norwegian Airline Over Ponytail Image

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Oslo: Erling Haaland, a Norway and Manchester City player, has filed a complaint against Norwegian Air Shuttle, alleging the airline of illegally utilizing his identity and distinctive appearance to promote travel tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Haaland's British company, York Promotions Ltd., is also a party in the dispute.

The controversy stems from a social media post in which Norwegian digitally inserted Haaland's signature blonde ponytail to a photo of one of its aircraft. The post's caption read, ‘We've never looked more Norwegian.’ The photograph was initially shared on Instagram and TikTok before being removed.

Haaland's lawyer, Thomas Hagen, stated that the action concerns the airline's ‘unlawful use’ of Haaland's attributes in marketing flight tickets during the World Cup. The lawsuit is registered as a civil dispute involving an alleged breach of Norway’s Marketing Act.

Norwegian has confirmed receiving the lawsuit but said it was surprised by the legal action. The airline said its posts were spontaneous social media content created while supporting the Norwegian national team during the tournament.

The case is scheduled for a planning hearing at Oslo District Court on October 9, where the parties and their lawyers are expected to prepare for the legal proceedings.

The lawsuit comes after Haaland had a prominent role in Norway’s World Cup campaign, scoring seven goals as the team reached the quarter-finals.