WHAT HAVE YOU DANE?
Kasper Schmeichel row intensifies as Denmark heroes rage at ‘degrading’ and ‘morally wrong’ criticism of Celtic keeper
THE fierce criticism of Kasper Schmeichel continues to dominate the post-international break talk in Denmark.
The Celtic keeper was unceremoniously blasted in an editorial in a Danish publication and now several of the country's football heroes have come out swinging against the brutal criticism.
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It was a miserable night for Schmeichel on Sunday night as Denmark fell to defeat against Portugal.
The 38-year old was between the sticks as the Danes fell to a 5-2 defeat in their Nations League clash, 5-3 on aggregate.
The Hoops No1 also picked up a shoulder injury that looks set to keep him out for a period of time.
Schmeichel's performance in the game was heavily criticised but one piece in particular has caused a major storm.
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Writing in Ekstra Bladet, columnist Anders Olsen used some very strong language in his piece titled: "Farewell, Kasper Schmeichel."
In the piece, Olsen blasted Schmeichel as "plump" and hit out at him over THREE of the Portugal goals.
However, it was a vile comment that compared Schmeichel's punching of the ball to being "like a polio child" that caused significant uproar.
The Danish PFA came out swinging and called for an apology to be made.
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PFA chief Michael Sahl Hansen branded the comments "way over the line" and "completely wrong."
He also blasted it as "completely distasteful" and hit out at the comparison to a "deeply serious illness and fat-shaming."
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Ekstra Bladet appear in no mood to apologise, however, with both Olsen and editor Knud Brix defending the article.
Brix said: "I agree that there may be some who are offended by this but our writer has chosen to use these words. I stand by that, and I think it is within the bounds of what an article should be."
Four days on, the reaction to the controversy continues.
Legendary former Danish footballer Peter Moller has now had his say on the matter.
Moller, a former Denmark, Copenhagen and PSV star, accepts that criticism is just part of football but feels this particular Schmeichel commentary went way too far.
He blasted: "Criticism is perfectly appropriate when it comes to performance on the pitch. Knives can be sharp there.
"I think it's distasteful and morally very wrong when it's a description of how he looks.
"It's a terrible choice of words, and I don't understand why it's necessary to use those words.
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"It's very personal and on a level I haven't seen before. It's too low."
Current Copenhagen midfielder Rasmus Falk, a former teammate of Schmeichel's at international level, also took aim at the criticism.
He fumed: "I think it's too degrading.
"I'll be sick of it if that becomes the norm for how we talk about each other.
"But that's how I feel about everything in life in general. You have to behave properly.
"I give criticism myself, and I also receive criticism, and we gladly accept it. We are not thin-skinned, because then you can't be in this industry at all.
"But of course there are limits to what you have to put up with and what is okay."
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Schmeichel will miss Celtic's clash with Hearts on Saturday after sustaining that shoulder injury.
While a timescale on his return has yet to be confirmed, Denmark boss Brian Riemer has revealed the veteran stopper will be out for the "foreseeable future."
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