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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Popstar Swedish footballer plays the Idol off the pitch | Popstar Swedish footballer plays the Idol off the pitch |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A decision to move a Swedish second-tier match to allow a player to take part in a television talent show has been branded "ridiculous" by rival players and pundits. | A decision to move a Swedish second-tier match to allow a player to take part in a television talent show has been branded "ridiculous" by rival players and pundits. |
| GIF Sundsvall's 24-year-old Irish-Swedish midfielder Kevin Walker has made headlines by progressing through TV4's Idol singing contest, prompting the television company – which also owns the rights to show matches from Sweden's Superettan – to request the fixture change. | GIF Sundsvall's 24-year-old Irish-Swedish midfielder Kevin Walker has made headlines by progressing through TV4's Idol singing contest, prompting the television company – which also owns the rights to show matches from Sweden's Superettan – to request the fixture change. |
| "I'm living a Bruce Wayne life at the moment," Walker told Swedish media. "I play football during the week, and then take part in Idol at the weekend. It's different for me than for other participants." | "I'm living a Bruce Wayne life at the moment," Walker told Swedish media. "I play football during the week, and then take part in Idol at the weekend. It's different for me than for other participants." |
| TV4's head of sport Emir Osmanbegovic told the news agency TT: "There will be no clash with Idol" – with Sundsvall's televised match at Assyriska having been put back to 20 October. | |
| Asked if it was desirable for a professional footballer to be competing in a talent show mid-season, Osmanbegovic said it was fine, "so long as the TV company owns the rights for both events". | |
| But Superettan rivals Degerfors, who are battling Sundsvall for promotion to the top flight, were critical of changes to scheduled matches. "It's ridiculous – television can do whatever they want," the midfielder Niklas Klingberg told the newspaper Sportbladet. | But Superettan rivals Degerfors, who are battling Sundsvall for promotion to the top flight, were critical of changes to scheduled matches. "It's ridiculous – television can do whatever they want," the midfielder Niklas Klingberg told the newspaper Sportbladet. |
| The outspoken Sportbladet columnist Robert Laul – who abandoned a promising career as a player to become a sports journalist – said the move was "unprecedented in Swedish football history. | The outspoken Sportbladet columnist Robert Laul – who abandoned a promising career as a player to become a sports journalist – said the move was "unprecedented in Swedish football history. |
| "If one looks at Kevin Walker's individual responsibility, it's obvious that football should come first. He has an employer, team-mates and paying fans that he should respect and be loyal to," he added. | "If one looks at Kevin Walker's individual responsibility, it's obvious that football should come first. He has an employer, team-mates and paying fans that he should respect and be loyal to," he added. |
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