A quick incident arose between a few Norwegian supporters and the security personnel. Injuries were avoided, although kicks were also seen.
An incident was not avoided in Thursday night’s close-knit Europel at the Seinäjoki football stadium. Seinäjoki football club SJK faced Norwegian Lillestrøm SK on their home field in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Conference League.
A scuffle broke out between a few supporters of the Norwegian team and local security personnel.
The situation started when one Norwegian supporter was about to fall from the stand onto the field and the other Norwegians tried to pull him back up to the stand from the hands of the orderlies.
CEO of SJK Sami-Petteri Kivimäki according to the police removed two Norwegian supporters from the stadium.
– A few supporters for one reason or another drifted onto the field level and the orderlies had to react to the situation. There is no drama involved in the scene. These are normal security measures that have to be taken when this kind of coming from the stands to the field level happens, Kivimäki explains the course of events.
Events on video
The recorded video of the incident shows the Norwegian fans kicking the security personnel. However, injuries were avoided.
– I have seen the video clip and we have gone through the matter with the orderlies. The matter will certainly still be investigated and official reports will be made as per the protocol. The Norwegian supporters were provoked, but our security personnel reacted appropriately and handled the situation, says Sami-Petteri Kivimäki.
Kivimäki does not believe that the incident will change anything in SJK’s security arrangements in the future.
– Of course, when large crowds move and supporters come from elsewhere, you have to be well prepared and have good plans and cooperation patterns with the authorities, as was the case now.
Torches through security checks
Despite extensive security arrangements, the Norwegian supporters managed to bring torches, which are prohibited in the games, into the stands as well. They did not cause any danger, but Uefa will probably intervene.
– Surely there will be some sanctions. Our security check had removed a lot of them, but unfortunately torches had also gotten through, which of course is not a good thing, Sami-Petteri Kivimäki continues.
Kivimäki says that the club is also going through this issue in its operations.
– Certain regulations and protocols of the security check do not allow such a thorough personal check that all flares could be removed.
Sami-Petteri Kivimäki states that the arrangements as a whole received praise from the European Football Association and, according to him, the atmosphere in the stadium was amazing.
There were more than 3,600 spectators at the international match at the Seinäjoki football stadium, of which more than 300 were supporters of the Norwegian team. The match ended with the Norwegians winning 0–1.
This is how SJK goes into the away match on Thursday next week from a one-goal chasing position.