After the scandalous scenes at the Stockholm derby, representatives of politics and football met at the Ministry of Justice. In addition to law changes and organizer responsibility, the attitude towards stand violence in Swedish football was also discussed.
“The trivialization and glossing over of what is happening must stop,” says Sports Minister Jakob Forssmed (KD).
He believes that more people must distance themselves from the violence and the Bengalis.
— Not to say that it is something you have to live with. In no other context is understanding shown that burning objects are thrown. There has to be an end to this now.
“Immense capital of violence”
SvFF’s chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt also wants to see a change in attitude within football to overcome disorder in the stands.
— Men see football as some kind of free zone to behave a little how they want. You can shout, you can threaten, you can commit crimes. But that’s not how a well-functioning society works. We need a broad societal discussion, says Reinfeldt and continues:
— I have respect for how complex this is. This is an enormous capital of violence.
Want to have supporters
Simon Åström, chairman of Swedish elite football (Sef), which is the organization of the elite clubs, believes that there has been a shift since the pandemic. The clubs used to have good control over who went to matches, but after the restrictions were released, new, violent people have found their way to football – even though they may not actually be interested in the game.
“Many come there because they have found an arena where they can vent their violent capital,” he says.
Already this autumn, the next meeting with the government will be held, and then he hopes that the participants will be even more.
“It is important that the supporters’ movement is allowed to participate,” says Simon Åström.