The scandalous scenes at last week’s derby have shaken football Sweden.
Many who condemn the violence now believe and hope for change.
– I think that at the same time there is an expression of a certain ambivalence on the part of the clubs, says Leif GW Persson.
The reactions after the violent derby between AIK and Djurgården have been many during the past week. Janne Andersson, the national team captain, was “badly affected” and had “difficulty finding words”.
AIK’s CEO Manuel Lindberg called the problem “tragic” and chose this week to resign from his post, as a result of protests and poor results.
Many agree that the violence in connection with football matches has gone too far.
– I think that at the same time there is an expression of a certain ambivalence on the part of the clubs when it comes to dealing with this problem. But it seems now, at least for the moment, to have overcome it, says criminologist Leif GW Persson.
– In the last local derby, a little too much happened for it to pass. Something will naturally happen, he continues.
“Hardly fond of individual measures”
Fredrik Reinfeldt, chairman of the Swedish Football Association, sees the stand violence as escalating and announced this week that it is now time to review Sweden’s “exclusion strategy”, which is aimed at prosecuting or suspending individuals who commit crimes.
Leif GW Persson thinks it is the right way to go.
– To begin with, I am not very fond of individual measures. The average football supporter goes there just to watch a match and then there remains a few percent who go there for other reasons. Those are the ones you have to target. The knowledge about them is certainly very good.