Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,071
I know football violence should not be laughed at, but the bit about the Football Factory causing a riot in the cinema is funny.
English disease spreads to Sweden
Bomb find shows culture of fan violence has potential to turn lethal
Michael Butcher
Tuesday October 26, 2004
The Guardian <http://www.guardian.co.uk>
When a mother took her child to play in a sandpit near AIK's Rasunda stadium in Stockholm she was a little surprised to find a cache of molotov cocktails. But that chance discovery was merely the prelude to Sweden's worst ever night of football violence in which a local derby led to AIK receiving a record fine and a ban on fans at home matches for the remainder of the season.
The riot at the AIK-Hammarby match last week took Swedish football hooliganism to unprecedented depths. Previously any unrest had been confined to areas around grounds but, when the visitors scored in this game, spectators threw missiles from the north bank of the stadium and invaded the pitch, leading to the suspension of proceedings for 40 minutes. It was only after a loudspeaker appeal by the AIK captain that tempers cooled and the players could finish the match.
The Swedish football federation reacted with a record fine of 100,000 Swedish Kronor (£7,665) and ordered AIK to play their last two matches of the season behind closed doors. A spokesman described it as "hefty for Swedish football", with the fine almost double the previous record. "If this had happened earlier in the season it would have been much more than two games behind closed doors," he added.
But the 27 homemade bombs caused the most disquiet. Stockholm's hooligan element are under surveillance by what is known as "the supporter police" but even they were unaware of the existence of the bombs. The devices were hidden in four plastic bags before being discovered by the mother in the afternoon before kick-off. Police believe their chance discovery prevented a potentially murderous attack.
The police now believe a far-right AIK gang were intending to destroy their own club's coach when it left the ground. For at least two years they have been unhappy about the leadership of the club, which is now doomed to relegation.
AIK sponsors were quick to react to the incident, demanding that their logos be taken off the club shirts and replaced with the legend "Stop violence". AIK has eight sponsors but it was the main sponsor, the brewery giant Abro, that took the initiative.
"AIK has to get proactive in counteracting violence," said Abro's Henrik Dunge. "No contract has been cancelled but sponsors are demanding a plan of action from AIK."
One suggestion has been airport-style body checks at the turnstiles for what Dunge believes is a small clique of troublemakers. For the time being he claims his company is not threatening to withdraw funds, "unless the club shows no interest in solving the problem".
Despite a massive police presence before last week's derby there had been running battles all afternoon in the Sundbyberg area of Stockholm between 100 fans and, when the violence spread, police were forced to close the roads in the area for half an hour.
The authorities had thought that Swedish hooliganism was petering out, so they are perplexed by recent developments that have seen the creation of "baby firms" attracting teenagers whose sole purpose is to fight each other with football as the backdrop. Stockholm police estimate the total number of hooligans is around 500 and the federation claims the phenomenon is largely confined to the capital. A distinctive element which makes the groups difficult to break down, say police, is that the leaders are often well educated and leading otherwise stable lives.
This is not the first time that violence has hit the headlines in the city. Two years ago an IFK Gothenburg fan was kicked to death in Stockholm and in 2001 a Hammarby fan received serious injuries when he was attacked with an iron bar. Last month a major cinema chain withdrew the film The Football Factory after rival fans fought during a screening.
The problem is far from confined to AIK. "What happened to AIK can happen to any club," said Hammarby's security chief Peter Thunell. "We are not far behind them in that area."
English disease spreads to Sweden
Bomb find shows culture of fan violence has potential to turn lethal
Michael Butcher
Tuesday October 26, 2004
The Guardian <http://www.guardian.co.uk>
When a mother took her child to play in a sandpit near AIK's Rasunda stadium in Stockholm she was a little surprised to find a cache of molotov cocktails. But that chance discovery was merely the prelude to Sweden's worst ever night of football violence in which a local derby led to AIK receiving a record fine and a ban on fans at home matches for the remainder of the season.
The riot at the AIK-Hammarby match last week took Swedish football hooliganism to unprecedented depths. Previously any unrest had been confined to areas around grounds but, when the visitors scored in this game, spectators threw missiles from the north bank of the stadium and invaded the pitch, leading to the suspension of proceedings for 40 minutes. It was only after a loudspeaker appeal by the AIK captain that tempers cooled and the players could finish the match.
The Swedish football federation reacted with a record fine of 100,000 Swedish Kronor (£7,665) and ordered AIK to play their last two matches of the season behind closed doors. A spokesman described it as "hefty for Swedish football", with the fine almost double the previous record. "If this had happened earlier in the season it would have been much more than two games behind closed doors," he added.
But the 27 homemade bombs caused the most disquiet. Stockholm's hooligan element are under surveillance by what is known as "the supporter police" but even they were unaware of the existence of the bombs. The devices were hidden in four plastic bags before being discovered by the mother in the afternoon before kick-off. Police believe their chance discovery prevented a potentially murderous attack.
The police now believe a far-right AIK gang were intending to destroy their own club's coach when it left the ground. For at least two years they have been unhappy about the leadership of the club, which is now doomed to relegation.
AIK sponsors were quick to react to the incident, demanding that their logos be taken off the club shirts and replaced with the legend "Stop violence". AIK has eight sponsors but it was the main sponsor, the brewery giant Abro, that took the initiative.
"AIK has to get proactive in counteracting violence," said Abro's Henrik Dunge. "No contract has been cancelled but sponsors are demanding a plan of action from AIK."
One suggestion has been airport-style body checks at the turnstiles for what Dunge believes is a small clique of troublemakers. For the time being he claims his company is not threatening to withdraw funds, "unless the club shows no interest in solving the problem".
Despite a massive police presence before last week's derby there had been running battles all afternoon in the Sundbyberg area of Stockholm between 100 fans and, when the violence spread, police were forced to close the roads in the area for half an hour.
The authorities had thought that Swedish hooliganism was petering out, so they are perplexed by recent developments that have seen the creation of "baby firms" attracting teenagers whose sole purpose is to fight each other with football as the backdrop. Stockholm police estimate the total number of hooligans is around 500 and the federation claims the phenomenon is largely confined to the capital. A distinctive element which makes the groups difficult to break down, say police, is that the leaders are often well educated and leading otherwise stable lives.
This is not the first time that violence has hit the headlines in the city. Two years ago an IFK Gothenburg fan was kicked to death in Stockholm and in 2001 a Hammarby fan received serious injuries when he was attacked with an iron bar. Last month a major cinema chain withdrew the film The Football Factory after rival fans fought during a screening.
The problem is far from confined to AIK. "What happened to AIK can happen to any club," said Hammarby's security chief Peter Thunell. "We are not far behind them in that area."
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