Celtic must stand with Kasper after Danish hack’s clown attack
By Jamie Gribben
Just when you think sports journalism can’t sink lower than the standards we’ve grown depressingly used to here in Scotland, along comes Danish writer Anders Olsen from Ekstra Bladet to prove us wrong. Olsen’s recent attack on Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel wasn’t merely poor journalism – it was downright shameful, and it’s time the entire Celtic family rallied behind our goalkeeper.
Olsen, clearly a man with more interest in publicity than professionalism, launched a foul assault on a player who’s captained his nation and pulled on Denmark’s jersey over a hundred times. We won't dignify Olsen’s full diatribe here – there's no need to amplify a commentary that invoked grotesque imagery involving disabled children. Suffice it to say, Olsen showed a level of ignorance and crass disregard for basic decency that should shame not only him, but his entire publication.
And what was Schmeichel’s crime in Olsen’s eyes? Apparently, Olsen blamed Kasper for his side's Nation's League exit to Portugal, having saved a penalty and carried a serious injury through 120 minutes of football.
Another predictable jibe centred around Kasper moving to Celtic, who are many times the size of any Danish club, in the Scottish Premiership – a league Olsen sneers at as somehow below the mighty Danish Superliga. This despite the fact Denmark’s reigning champions, Midtjylland, recently crashed out of the Champions League qualifiers at the hands of Slovan Bratislava. You remember Slovan – 5-1 losers at Celtic Park before finishing rock bottom of their Champions League group, with a grand total of zero points. Midtjylland themselves finished a glorious 20th place in the Europa League – twelve spots behind even The Rangers. If that’s the quality Olsen thinks Schmeichel abandoned, we’re better off ignoring his future footballing insight altogether.
Now, I’m old enough to recall when Denmark genuinely mattered on the international stage, back when Kasper’s father was part of the golden generation that famously lifted the Euros. That was an era of football worth respecting, unlike the current regime that stumbled into a major tournament while arrogantly overlooking talents like Matt O’Riley – simply because their former (and subsequently sacked) manager shared Olsen’s misguided belief in the superiority of their domestic game.
Let’s be clear – Denmark’s current international team does have talent. And Danish players have an admirable record of representing their country with a class and dignity that has only enhanced that Denmark's reputation internationally.
But it’s now clear their football, whatever its flaws, remains infinitely superior to their journalism.
Thankfully, Kasper isn’t facing this nonsense alone in his home country. Teammate Magnus Falk has stepped forward alongside Denmark coach Brian Reimer and Danish PFA chief Michael Sahl Hansen – who fittingly described Olsen as "a clown". Strong words, but not strong enough. Schmeichel has been outstanding since joining Celtic, a professional of the highest calibre who deserves the respect Olsen sorely lacks.
Now it’s our turn. The Celtic family must show Kasper he’s truly one of us. Let’s remind him – and remind Danish journalists who clearly don’t understand – what "You’ll Never Walk Alone" genuinely means. Schmeichel stood up for his country, put his body on the line, and deserves better than to be mocked and degraded by someone desperate for clicks.
In what must be a difficult time for him, with the possibility of missing out on a Scottish treble, it's more important than ever to stand with Kasper Schmeichel. Let's how him the unity, solidarity, and support the Celtic family is renowned for, while Olsen's 15 minutes of fame fade in the noise of Paradise.