There were again sad scenes when there were bangers and rockets from Djurgården’s heel, which led to the match being broken. Then came the decision that Hammarby and Djurgården will finish playing the interrupted derby on Monday. A quarter of the game remains and the home team has a 2-0 lead after Nahir Besara’s lesson at the end.
Fair? It is debatable, but seven years ago, Swedish football made the decision that more matches would be decided on the pitch. The competition regulations were changed after the 2016 season when Malmö FF was awarded the victory with 3-0 against Blåvitt and J-Södra-Östersund was also broken. Which gave the referee the right to restart the match the next day.
The police marked against football by withdrawing the permission to stage the 08 derby on Sunday. Which has now received criticism from the clubs’ representatives and it is pointed out that for a while the police wanted to take the hard gloves against the disturbances. Earlier this spring, some of the police suggested that emptying the stands could be a way.
Marks his displeasure
It may be that a large majority on Tele2 are only there to watch the game, but there are enough people who take power over sports. They want to mark their displeasure with Djurgården’s derby efforts and made sure to send in bang shots and rockets. It remains to be seen if they catch on.
We know that the framework for Allsvenskan football is fine and powerful, but we also know the downsides. Although 2024 fared better, after quite a few supporter groups agreed not to throw Bengals or bangers, there are examples to the contrary.
Parallel to the fact that representatives of clubs, the police and football at large argue about collective punishment, a dark day for Swedish football, it looks as if the criminals are getting away. Those who actually destroy the fine framing and ensure that the response from the police ends up being collective punishment.
Today 19:31
Derby on Tele2 stopped by the police: “Unique decision that divides football Sweden”
Too rarely takes a distance
Football has not helped itself by the fact that players and managers far too rarely distance themselves from the backs of the supportership. We have seen it many times in many associations. It is the same with the organized supporters who are quick to get on the barricades if there is talk of introducing VAR but are cautious in the event of disorder.
It is clear that dialogue and exclusion strategy is a conceivable and continued way to go and that the cooperation is getting better and better, but it is a given that the politicians will not let it take place after scenes like this. Right now, an investigation is underway that the government has launched and where SvFF’s former chief legal officer Anders Hübinette has been given the responsibility of leading it.
It should be ready in March 2025, and from a political point of view, it has been indicated that there should be an investigation into tougher penalties for illegal masking, burning of pyrotechnics, thrown objects and plane storming. The government also wants to see if more people can be punished with access bans by the police and if the bans issued can be longer.
Does not strengthen the cause of football
One can safely state that Sunday’s 08 derby unfortunately does not strengthen football’s cause. Looking at how difficult it seems to be to punish the criminals and what the punishments are, it is clear that the harsh words of the politicians are not in harmony with laws and police work. Perhaps the investigation will lead development in that direction. For a tougher grip.
After portraying this problem for over 20 years and seeing all possible variations tried without getting rid of the disorder, I wonder if it even works? We have a society where there is a lack of law and order and football is part of society.
Of course, you can wish that it is always quiet in the stands, but it is hard to believe that. If you introduce tougher measures, it is not possible to believe that it will solve everything, because you need to back it up with dialogue and cooperation. Otherwise, you will get the good supporter forces against you and that would be the wrong way.