Why Norway Fan Sat Still During "Stupid" Row Celebration at World Cup

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One Norway fan is giving a red card to his fellow countrymen.

As Norwegian soccer fans have gone viral for celebrating the team with their signature unison row at the 2026 World Cup, one attendee at the tournament, Emil Lappen, has gained notoriety for opting out of the celebratory move. And he has no qualms about not joining in.

“I just find it really stupid,” Lappen told Sky News in an interview posted to X July 9. “That's the thing I thought when they came up with it, that it was stupid and annoying. And I didn't want to do it.”

The so-called “Viking Row” first gained popularity at this year’s World Cup and consists of fans doing an exaggerated rowing motion in unison as they shout the Norwegian word for “row” over and over again. The chant typically begins with the blowing of a Norse horn known as Gjallarhorn to get fans ready.

As for why Lappen—who was sporting his Norway jersey throughout the interview—found himself so annoyed with the chant? He believes it’s a poor imitation of Iceland’s “Viking Thunder Clap,” which starts with a loud shout and continues with clapping in unison that grows in speed.

And while clapping is indeed different from rowing, for Lappen the sentiment remains.

“Changing a motion isn't enough to get it away from just being a copy of exactly what they did,” he explained. “All they wanted was the same reaction from people and then they just changed the motion. That’s the same thing.”

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

But almost more importantly? “It's factually wrong,” Lappen said, noting the Vikings “didn't row. They sailed over the Atlantic.”

Indeed, the rowing the motions are meant to call back to the rowing on a Viking ship, which Lappen maintains never actually happened in Viking history as they would have needed sails to cross the Atlantic Ocean, not just oars.

“They said they were gonna row across the Atlantic, and that's why I've been so annoyed about it,” he added. “The Vikings rowed up rivers and things like that, but across the Atlantic they sailed.”

Sky News/YouTube

Regardless of the chant being a fun way for Norway fans to come together, Lappen remained unmoved, adding, “I found it stupid, and I wanted to show that I didn't appreciate it. And I think I got the message across.”

And what happens if Norway beats England in the quarter-final match at Miami Stadium on July 11?

“They can win whatever they want,” Lappen emphasized, “I will not row.”

While the Norway fan will be watching the game from the comfort of his own home, keep reading for all the stars who have experienced the 2026 World Cup in person.

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