DistantNews
Support us
Sweden's sports crime coordinator questions calmer hockey crowds
🇸🇪 Sweden /Crime & Justice

Sweden's sports crime coordinator questions calmer hockey crowds

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Sweden's newly appointed national coordinator for combating sports-related crime is investigating why ice hockey spectator areas are calmer than football ones.
  • Martin Holmgren, former director general of the Prison and Probation Service, will examine measures to reduce conflict levels at football matches and assess the potential for regulated pyrotechnic use.
  • The initiative aims to address criminal infiltration, illicit agent activities, and youth recruitment into gangs within sports environments, with commercialization and large sums of money identified as key attractors for criminal forces.

Sweden's newly appointed national coordinator for combating sports-related crime, Martin Holmgren, is probing the stark difference in crowd behavior between ice hockey and football matches.

Why is it calmer in the ice hockey stands?

— Martin HolmgrenSweden's national coordinator for combating sports-related crime questioning the difference in crowd behavior.

Holmgren, who has a background in football and a personal affinity for ice hockey, noted the significant reduction in crowd disturbances at hockey games compared to decades past. He recalled a time when Stockholm derby matches involved significant unrest, including police on horseback. "Why has it become so?" he questioned, suggesting that lessons could be learned from hockey's calmer atmosphere.

This is something I will definitely delve into.

— Martin HolmgrenStating his intention to investigate the reasons for calmer hockey crowds.

His mandate includes reducing conflict levels at football matches and exploring the possibility of allowing pyrotechnics under regulated conditions, potentially following a Norwegian model. Holmgren indicated a "certain positive approach" from the government towards pyrotechnic use. He plans to consult with police, football authorities, and supporters to find a way forward and overcome current impasses.

Why has it become so? Because I remember a time when it was incredibly rowdy at the Stockholm derbies, fights in the Globe and mounted police.

— Martin HolmgrenRecalling past disturbances at ice hockey games and contrasting them with the present.

The Swedish government has allocated 10 million kronor to the Swedish Sports Confederation (RF) to bolster sports' resilience against crime. A recent survey by Tryggare Sverige, commissioned by RF, revealed that organized crime infiltrates both elite and grassroots sports, not just football or in disadvantaged areas. Holmgren cited the commercialization and substantial financial transactions, particularly in player transfers, as major factors drawing criminal elements into sports.

I have no opinion on this today, but I perceive that there is a certain positive approach to the use of pyrotechnics within the government.

— Martin HolmgrenCommenting on the government's potential stance on pyrotechnics.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog