Swedish Police Reverses Controversial Football Masking Ban Ahead of Matches
Swedish police retract their controversial masking ban for football matches after criticism and stakeholder reactions.
- • Police retract masking requirement for matches due to criticism.
- • Stakeholders express relief; calls for better communication.
- • Masking has been illegal but is still common in stadiums.
- • Concerns that strict measures could increase tensions among fans.
Key details
In a significant development, the Swedish police have decided to retract their controversial requirement for football clubs to interrupt matches if spectators engage in organized masking. This decision comes just a day before the Allsvenskan league's round 24 matches, following widespread criticism from football representatives and stakeholders regarding the lack of consultation before the rule was imposed.
The initial rule mandated match organizers to stop games when organized masking occurred in the stands, a practice that has been legally prohibited since 2017 but remains prevalent among fans. Critics, including Tryggve Pederby from the Swedish Football Supporters Union (SFSU), argued that enforcing such a ban could intensify divisions among supporter groups and lead to greater unrest. Marie Borg, Deputy Head of the Operational Unit at Noa, acknowledged the decision was based on insufficient support from clubs, emphasizing the importance of dialogue in fostering safe football events while recognizing ongoing issues related to disturbances and illegal pyrotechnics in the stands.
Stakeholders expressed relief at the police's reversal. Bosse Andersson, sports director at Djurgården, described the decision as "common sense," while coach Stefan Billborn stated he did not foresee any significant impact on his team's performance. However, Malmö FF's CEO, Niclas Carlnén, criticized the initial lack of communication about the new requirement, highlighting the need for better cooperation between clubs and police. These recent developments will likely shape future discussions about crowd control and fan safety in Swedish football.