Caroline Graham Hansen, a winger for Norway, has expressed regret for criticising head coach Hege Riise after being benched for the FIFA Women’s World Cup match against Switzerland on Tuesday.
At Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium, the 28-year-old was a second-half substitute, but the 0-0 stalemate put the former champions on the verge of elimination.
Following the final whistle, Graham Hansen expressed her frustrations in a TV interview.
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“I just want to apologise for my statements after the match. I’m just a human being with a lot of feelings,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
“Emotions got the better of me. I took the focus away from what matters, and that is being here to play the World Cup.”
Graham Hansen stated that even after the decision to omit her from the starting lineup, she “strongly disagreed” with it.
“But I respect that the coach decides, and she has the right to do what is best,” she added.
“I know it causes unrest around the team, when I speak out as I did yesterday. It was … not the rational me.”
Graham Hansen, who with Barcelona last month won the Champions League, responded to her comment on Tuesday that she had received a harsh deal ever since Riise took control.
“A year ago I was removed from the leadership group as one of the first things Hege did,” she said.
“I also disagreed with that, but it was not relevant to yesterday, and should not have been referred to. So I apologise for that.
“I want to do everything to help Norway further …”
Graham Hansen will still be a part of Riise’s preparations for Norway’s final Group A encounter against the Philippines in Auckland on Sunday. Riise said she accepted the player’s apologies.
“She is genuinely sorry for her emotional outbursts, not only now, but also a bit back in time,” Riise said.
“There is no reason why this cannot be a success story. We had a crash, now it has to be reset and then we will continue working forward.”
Graham Hansen’s remarks were made at the conclusion of a trying night for Riise, who had just lost previous Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg to a groyne injury.
“The first examination by a physiotherapist and doctor shows that it was absolutely right not to play the match,” team doctor Trygve Hunemo said of the 28-year-old striker.
“We will set up a plan throughout the week to optimise the opportunities for Ada to play on Sunday.”