Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has gone on the offensive off the pitch, filing a lawsuit against the airline Norwegian Air Shuttle for allegedly using his image without authorization. According to his lawyer, Thomas Hagen, the dispute centers on the carrier’s unauthorized use of the forward’s distinctive features — namely his well-known ponytail — in a promotional campaign for plane tickets tied to the 2026 World Cup.
The Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang first reported the story, noting that the airline had shared a doctored photo on social media showing one of its aircraft sporting a ponytail resembling Haaland’s. The image was later removed from the company’s accounts.
Norwegian Air Shuttle confirmed it had received the lawsuit but said it was puzzled by the legal action. Company spokesperson Catharina Solli explained that the airline, like much of the country, had simply been celebrating the national team’s World Cup run through a handful of lighthearted posts inspired by social media trends. She added that while it’s unfortunate the matter escalated to litigation, the company hopes to resolve the issue through reasonable dialogue.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between athletes’ personal branding rights and companies looking to capitalize on viral sports moments. Want the full story? Check out the original report.
Source: <![CDATA[Haaland activó el modo defensa: demandó por usar su ‘coleta’]]> (RSS::excelsior.com.mx – Portada).
Image: Kathleen T. Rhem.