Makeshift Sandefjord side routed in Norwegian Cup after fixture dispute

Top-flight Norwegian side Sandefjord sacrificed the Cup and a shot at Europe by sending a makeshift team without their head coach to play their third-round tie after failing to convince organisers to adjust the schedule which the club says is placing an intolerable load on players.

Sandefjord were beaten 6-1 by their third-tier opponents Tromsdalen to exit the competition on Wednesday following the Football Federation’s (NFF) refusal to reschedule the match.

Sandefjord, based about an hour and a half south of Oslo, had to travel nearly 1,860 kilometers to Tromso in the north and stay there for three days due to a lack of transport options. The team are due to face SK Brann in the league on Saturday.

Head coach Andreas Tegstrom and the first-team squad did not make the trip, with the club saying the fixture schedule put too much strain on the squad.

"We are dealing with significant wear and tear in the squad and have to take this into account from a medical standpoint," Sandefjord said in a statement.

The Norwegian top flight is entering its final third of the season, a factor that influenced the decision to de-prioritise the Norwegian Cup and forgo the opportunity of securing European qualification next year.

"If we had suffered one or more injuries to our players now, it would have had a very negative sporting impact, as we do not have the possibility to bring in new players," the club added.

The NFF stated on Thursday that it disagreed with Sandefjord’s decision.

"It is common for clubs to disagree with decisions that are made, but the principles of fair play and respect for other teams and the competition must be upheld," it said in a statement, adding that the club had not faced an unreasonable workload so far this season. REUTERS