‘It’s stupid’: Norway fan rejects iconic Viking Row World Cup celebration and explains why

Not everyone rows with the crowd. Norway fans have plenty to celebrate as their football team continues their promising run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, advancing to the quarter-finals and facing England on Saturday for a place in the last four.Descendants of the Vikings, known to many from history books and popular streaming series, have embraced a celebration inspired by their seafaring heritage. Hundreds of Norwegian fans, joined by stars such as Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard, have gathered after each victory at this World Cup to recreate the synchronized rowing motion of the Viking longship.The celebration became one of the defining moments of this FIFA World Cup and became so popular that Google even created a special animation in its honor.However, it seems that one fan was far from impressed with the group’s actions. As thousands of supporters joined the rowing celebrations, Emil Lappen was seen sitting in silent protest, refusing to imitate the action.Speaking to Sky Sports in a video interview, Lappen explained the reason for his disagreement.“I just find it really stupid, that’s what I felt when they came up with it, that it’s stupid and annoying and I don’t want to do it.“It’s a lot of what Iceland did, and it’s factually wrong. They didn’t row, they sailed across the Atlantic. Changing the movement isn’t enough to make it not a copy of what they did.”Iceland’s famous Viking Clap became a global sensation during UEFA Euro 2016. Iceland players and supporters stood together after matches, raising their hands before clapping in unison and chanting “Huh!” , creating one of the most iconic celebrations of football fans.“All they wanted was the same reaction from people, and then they just changed the movement. That’s the same thing. The Vikings sailed across the Atlantic. They didn’t row across the Atlantic,” Lappen added.Lappen argued that the celebration was historically inaccurate and said he did not appreciate it.“The Vikings rowed down rivers and stuff. But they sailed across the Atlantic. I wanted to show that I didn’t appreciate it, and I think I got it. I’ll comfortably support them from my chair at home. No rowing, no rowing anywhere!”The Norwegian fan also criticized the celebratory song associated with the rowing tradition.“The song they released along with the rowing. They said they were going to row across the Atlantic and that’s why it pisses me off.”

The origin of the Viking Row celebration

The now famous celebration was the brainchild of one fan. In December 2025, Norwegian supporter Ole Froystad, fondly called ‘Mr Row Row’, came up with the chant.“It’s so much fun to see people come together and row as one. It creates a real sense of unity,” Froystad told FIFA. com, adding that the celebration has become “much bigger than I ever imagined. It’s absolutely crazy.”Norway’s official fan club soon turned the idea into a matchday ritual. “It all started with Ole’s idea. Then we developed it together,” Torstein Hamran, board member of Oljeberget Supporterklubb, told FIFA. com.The first attempt against Switzerland in March this year provoked mixed reactions. “Some people loved it, while others thought it looked a bit silly,” he admitted. However, after the June friendly match with Sweden, everything changed. “This is going to be huge,” supporters predicted — and they were right.” added Hamran.