Swedish government calls emergency meeting of soccer federation after crowd disorder
Flares are thrown on to the pitch by AIK supporters during the Allsvenskan soccer match between Djurgarden's IF and AIK at Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday May 28, 2023. The Swedish government called an emergency meeting of the country’s soccer federation on Monday after crowd disorder during a match between Stockholm rivals AIK and Djurgardens that caused a one-hour delay. Credit: AP/Jonas Ekströmer
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — The Swedish government called an emergency meeting of the country’s soccer federation on Monday after crowd disorder during a match between Stockholm rivals AIK and Djurgårdens that caused a one-hour delay.
Flares were thrown from the crowd on two occasions during Sunday’s game at the Tele2 Arena and police officers with dogs ran onto the field to protect the players before being confronted by masked fans in the AIK section behind one of the goals, according to television footage.
Police opened an investigation and Gunnar Strommer, Sweden’s minister of justice, has contacted the Swedish Football Association to request a meeting in an effort to prevent a repeat of the crowd trouble.
“What happened is extraordinarily serious and scandalous,” Strommer told Swedish daily Aftonbladet.
Strommer told the newspaper that the government was open to taking action but was waiting to hear what steps the federation and game organizers were taking to prevent similar situations.
Djurgarden won 1-0 in a game that saw two AIK players sent off in the 90th minute, inflaming an already hostile situation.
There were reports in the Swedish media of a security guard suffering a minor injury.
Police officers holding off AIK supporters trying to enter the pitch during the Allsvenskan soccer match between Djurgarden's IF and AIK at Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday May 28, 2023. The Swedish government called an emergency meeting of the country’s soccer federation on Monday after crowd disorder during a match between Stockholm rivals AIK and Djurgardens that caused a one-hour delay. Credit: AP/Jonas Ekströmer
“It’s sad. I think it’s unworthy of AIK that it should be like this,” said the club’s chief executive Manuel Lindberg, who has since resigned with the team in next-to-last place in the 16-team league after 10 games.
