Odegaard to take action against publications days after wedding chaos

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is taking legal action against two Norwegian publications just days after his wedding was disrupted by a photographer being dragged away by security.

The 26-year-old is taking action against weekly magazine Se og Hor and daily newspaper Dagbladet over alleged violations of privacy following reports about his home in the UK.

In a letter sent to Se og Hør’s editor Niklas Kokkin-Thoresen, Odegaard’s lawyer Tim Lowles said: ‘The article describes the location of our client’s recently purchased family home and includes photographs of it.’

Kokkin-Thoresen said he took the allegations with ‘stoic calm’ and that the articles will not be removed.

Last week, the Gunners star’s idyllic weekend wedding with Helen Spilling was interrupted by commotion, with a photographer dragged out by multiple security guards.

The photojournalist was hauled away towards the end of the ceremony as guests were leaving and his magazine have since threatened police action.

Odegaard and Spilling were officially married in November and in December they had a baby boy, but they marked it with a grand ceremony in Oslo on Saturday.

Fellow Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard were there with their loved ones – the former accompanied by his girlfriend Tolami Benson, the latter by his wife Laura Hilven.

But there was trouble when photographer Andreas Fadum, working for Se og Hor, was forcibly removed from his spot outside Gjerdrum Church – while guests watched on in surprise.

Se og Hor told Nettavisen in a statement: ‘We react very strongly to the fact that the security guards have used physical force against our photographer in the field.

‘He was in a public place to cover a public event. They had no right to block off the parking lot or the area around the church.

‘The matter will therefore be reported to the police, we cannot allow force to be used against journalists and photographers on assignment.’

Fadum is an experienced photographer who was involved in covering the 2011 Norway terrorist attacks.

It is unclear what led to his removal from the site. Other photographers were present, including one from the Associated Press.

The Norwegian Editors’ Association added: ‘It is very serious that a photojournalist is treated in this way in a public place.

‘We react strongly to security personnel behaving as if they have police authority. We believe the matter should be reported, and will support Se og Hor in this.’

Norwegian newspaper Nettavisen contacted one of the security guards but did not receive a response.

The couple were were still able to have their special day in the company of friends and family.

Spilling won the 2021 edition of Norway’s dance show, ‘Skal vi danse’, similar to the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing.

She also has 17 gold medals in the Norwegian national championship for ballroom dancing.

Since going public with their relationship in June 2023, they have made an array of cosy appearances together and were seen linking arms while out and about in summer last year.

Spilling boasts an impressive Instagram following of 180,000 and is the founder of a dance studio as well as a fashion brand.

She is a keen follower of Odegaard’s football career, appearing in the stands at the Emirates and for his international games.

In April, she was seen dancing to Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’ – which has become the anthem for Kai Havertz – after a 5-0 win over Chelsea during which Odegaard bagged two assists.

Spilling’s spirits were clearly at a high as she danced away in the stands, while Odegaard applauded the home fans after the victory.

They were first seen in public as a couple at the London Football Awards in March 2023 and he regularly crops up in her social media feed.

In August, the lovebirds posted a black-and-white photo by the sea as they cradled her baby bump, writing: ‘1+1 = 3. Can’t wait to meet you, our little baby.’ In December, they had their baby boy.