Ødegaard Condemns Bernardo Silva Kick: “This Has No Place on a Football Pitch”
Norway captain Martin Ødegaard was furious after Bernardo Silva appeared to kick the back of his ankle during stoppage time of Portugal’s 2–1 Nations League win in Oslo.
The incident added another chapter to the long rivalry between the two players, who spent years competing in the Premier League. Silva joined Real Madrid from Manchester City in the summer, while Ødegaard continues to lead Arsenal from midfield.
Ødegaard was seen repeatedly shouting an expletive at Silva after the challenge. Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster TV2 before limping towards the team bus, he made his view clear.
“This has no place on a football pitch,” Ødegaard said.
How the Incident Happened
Ødegaard had played the ball forward with his left foot from deep inside Norway’s half when Silva approached from behind. Silva raised his right foot too late to challenge for the ball and appeared to catch Ødegaard’s trailing left foot.
Norwegian reporters later asked Silva about the incident. In a clip shared by Nettavisen, the Manchester City midfielder initially responded with a brief question.
“What tackle?” Silva replied.
He then dismissed the confrontation with another short response.
“It’s football, my friend,” said Silva, who spent nine years at Manchester City and won six Premier League titles.
A Rivalry Shaped by the Premier League
Arsenal and Ødegaard finished runners-up to Manchester City in 2023 and 2024. Last season, however, Ødegaard finally helped Arsenal win their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Arsenal and Manchester City are again near the top of the early-season table, adding extra context to the tension between two players who have repeatedly competed for the biggest honours in English football.
The Wider Manchester City Case
The match took place while Manchester City remain at the centre of the Premier League’s long-running financial case. The club were charged with alleged breaches over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018, primarily concerning sponsorship income and cooperation with the investigation.
An independent panel has reportedly found Manchester City guilty of a majority of the 115 charges, although the final sanctions have not yet been decided. It remains unclear whether previous titles could be affected.
Manchester City deny wrongdoing. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak also told supporters that “nothing has changed”, as the legal process continues.
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