AIK Faces Player Departures and Fan Restrictions Amid Season Climax

AIK is undergoing significant changes both on and off the field as the season nears its end. John Guidetti, the prominent striker who joined AIK in the summer of 2022 and played 83 matches for the team, has officially announced his departure after the season concludes. Reflecting on his time, Guidetti shared, "It has been a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and it didn’t turn out quite as I hoped," highlighting a memorable last-minute goal against Hammarby in front of over 47,000 fans as an unforgettable moment. His final match will be against Halmstad this Sunday.

Meanwhile, defender Sotirios Papagiannopoulos is also likely to play his last match for AIK amid ongoing contract negotiations that he described as frustratingly slow, stating, "Things have taken far too long."

Off the pitch, AIK Hockey has been penalized by the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation following disturbances during their October 17 match against Västerås IK. The sanctions include a ban on fans bringing any flags or banners to the next five away matches, as supporters were found to use flags to conceal their identities during disruptions. Additionally, AIK is prohibited from selling fan merchandise in the away section for these matches, spanning November 12 to November 28, including games against Troja, Oskarshamn, Södertälje, Östersund, and Bik Karlskoga. These disciplinary measures stem from pyrotechnics-related incidents that delayed gameplay.

These developments mark a period of transition and regulatory challenges for AIK across their football and hockey departments.