According to TV 2, the national team leadership has concluded it is not right to include Haikin even if FIFA approves him as a Norwegian national team player. NRK expert Carl-Erik Torp told NRK Nordland that Haikin has made mistakes and been unreliable in big moments, and that the coaching staff does not know him, making him an uncertainty factor both sportingly and socially. NTB reported last week that FIFA has rejected Haikin's application to switch federations from Russia, but NFF is in dialogue with FIFA about the case.
Haikin does not meet FIFA's criteria for a federation switch, partly because a short loan to Bristol City in 2023 may have reset his residence time. FIFA's statutes require a player to have lived in the country for at least five years, but the clock resets if a player is transferred to a club affiliated with another federation. Haikin has lived in Norway since 2019 except for a few months in spring 2023.
Many are simply not aware of the equipment and aids that exist. This is about giving people the tools they need to stay longer in working life.
Haikin made two mistakes in the cup final against Brann on Saturday but later became a penalty hero, reigniting debate about his place in the squad. Norway's World Cup squad will be announced on May 21. Separately, Hørselsforbundet Vest-Lofoten invites to an open meeting at the town hall in Leknes on Wednesday, May 27.
The meeting's topics include working life, coping, and physical health for the hearing impaired. Health nurse Tove Westgaard, who is training as a mentor for the hearing impaired, will participate. According to NRK Nordland, Gunn Elise Johnsdatter described that many are unaware of the equipment and aids available.
Sportingly, he has made some mistakes and been 'shaky' in big moments. He has played himself a bit out on the sideline, I think everyone sees that. Even though he has had many good games in Europe, I think the most important thing for Ståle Solbakken is to get in a type you can trust and know what you get from.
Westgaard is herself hearing impaired and will share experiences and show simple exercises to prevent ailments.
The most weighty argument is probably that they don't know him, he is an uncertainty factor in several ways. He has not been part of the group before, either sportingly or socially, and you can't risk anything. Sportingly, four or five months ago, it was easy to think he should be in the squad. But he has not been good enough in recent months. It's brutal to say, but they can't trust him.