Susanne Petersson, president of the supporter organization Camp Sweden, was on site at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels yesterday to support the Swedish men’s national team against Belgium.
During the first half, information was received about the crime and later that the match would be abandoned and the Swedish supporters would remain in the arena.
– You didn’t really understand what had happened and you probably didn’t really want to take it to heart. It was both incredible and a little stressful, says Petersson.
When it became clear that a deceased person was wearing a Swedish match shirt, Petersson of course reacted with dismay.
– I think it’s terrible that as a supporter you can’t go and feel safe. It’s terrible, says Petersson.
How do you think this will affect your business?
– I believe that football unites and that it will continue to unite. It is a sense of belonging and a community that is difficult to achieve in any other way.
SvFF’s head of security Martin Fredman believes that a recommendation to avoid national team jerseys is inevitable. Petersson hopes it won’t last that long.
– Maybe you will think more than once, but at the same time I hope that it changes and that you can feel safe again wearing a Swedish shirt – and feel proud of it. Much of our community is that we meet and recognize our yellow shirts, he says.
She hopes that yesterday’s act does not affect the interest in going on trips away.
– I will never stop going to football and I will probably feel as safe there as anywhere else.