Rune Jarstein is a lot like most professional athletes. When his team loses, or they have a bad game, he doesn’t want to talk about it.
Jarstein happened to be in a bad mood Tuesday, despite playing for the winning team. The Norway goalkeeper stormed out of an interview and flung a reporter’s headset against a wall in response to a question Tuesday, and he threatened a photographer on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
“I didn’t want to be interviewed or have my picture taken and I expressed that clearly,” Jarstein said in a statement. “When I was photographed anyway I felt strongly provoked and made that clear. I regret that my comments were perceived as a real threat, and I strongly apologize for my behavior.”
Jarstein’s antics began after Norway’s 2-1 win over Slovenia on Tuesday. In the first half of the game, the 27-year-old bobbled a free kick that lead to Slovenia’s goal. The interviewer, from Norway’s TV2, asked him if he was to blame.
Jarstein shook his head, said something in Norwegian and stormed off the set, smashing a piece of equipment on the way to the tunnel. However, that outburst didn’t reduce his temper from a boil to a simmer.
On Wednesday morning, he reportedly threatened to punch a photographer who took his photo. The Norway team was leaving its Oslo hotel, and the goalkeeper confronted another member of the media.
Jarstein apologized, and it appears that he will avoid sanctions from the Norwegian FA. But he might want to do something about that temper.
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Photo via Facebook/Rune Almenning Jarstein
