NTB photographer Trond Teigen thought it was running water he heard behind him. It was not, he says.
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It was initially in the match between Sandefjord and Brann that the photographer stood in front of the Brann supporters, with the camera aimed at the pitch.
Then he felt something hit his shoulder, which would later turn out to be a saliva clot.
Then I heard a beam behind me. I thought it was water. This is not the first time supporters have tried to harass a photographer, Teigen tells VG.
He goes on to say that he turned around, and saw some supporters hiding and some standing and laughing.
Both the hoodie and the box with photo equipment had been hit.
–Caught on tape
It was not until the break that Teigen met a representative from Sandefjord Football who told him that there was no water on his clothes.
Teigen spoke to the police, and after the match he gave them his explanation and said he would report – even though he did not know who was behind the crime.
A few minutes later, he was told that the video surveillance had captured the incident, and that the person had been identified.
– I can confirm that we have arrested a man from Bergen who is said to have peed on a photographer, says operations manager Tore Grindem in the South-East police district.
–– It was not a coincidence, I can promise you that
Bergens Tidende, which first mentioned the case, has been in contact with Erlend Vågane, the leader of Brann’s supporter group.
– From what I understand, it has probably not been the intention to meet the photographer, but such things should not happen anyway and we just have to apologize, Vågane says to the newspaper.
Teigen does not buy that explanation.
– That it must have been an accident is bullshit. First I was spit on, then it was barely a minute, then I heard that beam behind there. It was not a coincidence, I can promise you that, says the photographer to VG.
He feels confident that the surveillance video will confirm what he says.
– But you have no permanent injuries after this?
– No. But you feel a little dirty, you do.
This is what Teigen says, who confirms to VG that he has had a shower and that the photo box can expect a disinfection round.
– And the hoodie is on the sink.
– How hot?
– 60 grader.
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