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"Not the strategy we agreed on with the police"

The interest organization Swedish Elite Football (Sef) is critical of the police interrupting the Stockholm derby between Hammarby and Djurgården, which was played out today. It is not the strategy we agreed on with the police, says Secretary-General Johan Lindvall.

» Published: October 21 2024

"Not the strategy we agreed on with the police"
Photo: Magnus Lejhall/TT

The derby resumes at 2 pm in front of empty stands at Tele 2 Arena, in the 76th minute and with the score 2-0 to Hammarby. Sunday's match was not completed due to pyrotechnics being thrown from Djurgården's section and at least one person being burned. The police dissolved the public event after a match meeting, which has never happened before in the men's Allsvenskan football history.

Afterwards, a verbal dispute arose where Hammarby's security chief Göran Rickmer criticized the police's decision. Per Engström, section chief at the National Operational Department (Noa), believed that Hammarby did not take necessary measures, which led to the police's decision.

The interest organization Svensk Elitfotboll (SEF), which represents the clubs, stands on Hammarby's side.

No Exclusion Strategy

Our assessment was that the match could have been completed. And then we stand behind what Hammarby's security chief has said, says Secretary-General Johan Lindvall.

He believes that the police did not follow the procedure that was decided before the season. Last year's Allsvenskan was marked by headlines about spectator scandals.

It's not the strategy we agreed on with the police, but we have worked according to an exclusion strategy where those who commit offenses should be banned. Now the police choose to deviate from that strategy. We need to find out if this is a new strategy that we haven't been part of.

Meeting with the Minister of Sports

Already before the scandalous derby, it was decided that football representatives would meet with Minister of Sports Jakob Forssmed (KD) in a couple of weeks, on November 5.

We had hoped to be able to go there and talk about a more positive trend in general within Allsvenskan. Now we've had a number of matches in the derbies here where we're not satisfied with the outcome. And then we'll see what happens at that meeting, says Lindvall.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald
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