The federal base about the stand problems: « There is no quick fix »
The result of the investigation the government appointed to overcome order disorders on Swedish sports stands was presented on Monday – With elite football in focus.
There are several proposals for penalties and new legislation.
– I think it is important that the investigators press that we should protect all the positives that are in Swedish stand culture, and partly that they point out that the exclusion strategy must be what we continue to work on. I think that is positive parts, says the Football Association chairman Simon Åström and continues:
– Then I also think, given how the discussions have gone in recent years and that everyone agrees that the exclusion strategy must be the principle we relate to, that it is in demand that there are more tools that support that work.
The Football Association writes On its website that all good forces now need to work together – so will football be able to agree on this?
– I think there is none Quick fix. This is not a Swedish problem, it is a global problem. There is nowhere in the world where they have fully managed to deal with these challenges, says Simon Åström.
The chairman of the federation points out that at the same time one should be aware of and prepared that it is a long -term work.
– But where we gradually need to see a positive change in both how we work with the repressive tools that exist and the norm shifts required to get rid of the worst order disorders.
Does it become even more important with the normative part with this package with a great focus on repression that has now been presented?
– I would really say that that part is always important to work with, says Åström.
– But it is this concrete proposal that lies on the table, and we will obviously go into the details internally within the union, see how we will prepare an answer in this referral round.
– Of course, we will also have a good dialogue with all stakeholders during this period, because this is something concrete to discuss and see as part of the toolbox – but we should also be aware that there are other parts we need to work with in parallel.
The proposals from the Government Investigator is expected to primarily affect the stands belonging to the Swedish elite football clubs on the men’s side.
Per Eliasson is security manager at Swedish Elite Football, the interest organization for the 32 clubs in Allsvenskan and Superettan. He notes just like Åström that what seems to be a starting point in the exclusion strategy is positive.
– We can note that what Anders Hübinette presents is tools for the exclusion strategy, in order to develop the exclusion strategy, says Eliasson.
The security manager says that the part about being able to simplify the sharing of camera material is « very central » – where it is also worked with football’s own regulations.
– Just in order to be able to identify and prosecute people in a legally secure way.
Another point proposed by the investigator is a special penalty scale for « the most serious pyrotechnics crimes » with imprisonment at least six months and a maximum of two years.
– There is probably none of our clubs that have any views. If you throw pyrotechnics against players, on each other, against individuals who are in an unprotected environment …
– That there is a new penalty scale on it is reasonable.
Per Eliasson says that they will now get into the investigation in their entirety, and look at it together with the member associations.
Has there been any question marks or any concerns from club teams so far?
– It is clear that there are some question marks regarding the handling of the changes in the Order Act, with the penalties that will be there.
Eliasson continues:
– It is obviously reasonable that we have a discussion about this, to look at the consequences of all this.
– This is a suggestion. All 32 clubs are subject to being a referral body – and there it is important that we take that opportunity, give comments and input, so that this is as accurate and as good as possible.
In this context, It is also mentioned that the government’s investigators have had a great focus on football, but that the proposals are after all about Swedish sports events and not just football.
The National Sports Federation’s security officer Lena Sahlin looks positively at the proposed opportunity to share camera material in another way in the future.
– This is a question that the National Sports Federation, together with a number of member associations, has been pushing for a long time. We see this as absolutely crucial in order to be able to identify, prosecute and shut down the individuals who commit crimes in connection with sports events, she said in a press release.
Regarding the legislative proposals on a sharpened view of crimes linked to the Ordinance Act and tougher entry ban, Sahlin notes that most organizers of sports events « will never have to apply the legislative proposals presented by the investigator ».
– But it is important that there are powerful tools to use to shut out the individuals who commit crimes without affecting innocent visitors.
The legislative changes are proposed to enter into force on 1 July 2026.
Read more:
Proposal against standstick can be laws in 2026
Gunnar Strömmer: « We make a choice of not going back to collective punishment »
Supporter base: « Don’t forget that the question is much broader »
DN Debate: « All crimes on the stands shall lead to a ban on entry »
