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Former football star says he’s ready for a legal battle, claiming he’s been unfairly singled out.
John Arne Riise, 44, is speaking out after being slapped with a 40,000-kroner fine by the Norwegian Gambling Authority—following what he says was a simple, harmless action: approving Instagram tags while at a poker event in Brazil.
Now, the former Liverpool and national team footballer is threatening legal action, claiming the fine is unjust and the handling of the matter deeply flawed.
“I feel harassed,”
Riise told VG.
“If they can issue fines like this with no real justification, where does it stop? Someone has to stand up—and I’m ready.”
Tagged Without Trouble? Not So Fast.
The controversy began during the Easter holiday when Riise attended a poker event in Brazil. The tournament organizers posted two photos from the event and tagged Riise—who simply approved the tags on his Instagram page. He insists he did nothing more than allow the images to appear on his profile.
But the Norwegian Gambling Authority didn’t see it that way.
Because Riise had previously been warned about promoting foreign gambling companies—facing a threat of daily fines of 10,000 kroner—the Instagram activity triggered scrutiny. Hoping to stay on the right side of the law, Riise took a proactive step.
On April 11, he sent an email to the Norwegian Lottery Authority:
“Just wanted to inform you about this and see if it’s okay, I haven’t tagged anything—just accepted a post.”
Despite this, it took four days for a response—and it wasn’t reassuring. On April 15, officials informed Riise that his email should not be interpreted as permission, and that he alone was responsible for following the law.
The Authority pointed out that, in their view, the tagging was not coincidental but part of Riise’s role as an ambassador for the SiGMA Poker Tour. Riise, for his part, swiftly removed the posts.
Still, earlier this week, he received a formal notice of a 40,000-kroner fine.
“I Did Everything Right”
Riise, visibly frustrated, argues that he acted responsibly and in good faith.
“I sent the email before anything escalated. I wanted to do things properly, not hide anything. And then I’m punished for trying to be transparent? What else could I have done—telepathy?”
He questions the fairness of being held accountable for a delay in response from the authorities themselves, especially when his intent was to avoid breaking any rules.
A Legal Showdown Ahead?
The former footballer is now considering legal action to challenge the fine—and perhaps even the system behind it.
“Justice must be upheld, If they can do this to me, they can do it to anyone.”
Riise’s case has raised fresh questions about how Norway’s strict regulations around gambling promotion intersect with social media practices, particularly for public figures with international ties.
Whether or not Riise proceeds with a lawsuit, the incident has already ignited a broader conversation about regulation, responsibility, and digital communication in the modern age.
Source: VG
