“The Dark Side of Football Culture: Violence and Criminality Among Supporters “

What’s so good about football?

This leisure activity and entertainment industry has acquired an absurd sanctity in our society. A couple of thousand troublemakers and hooligans march along one of Stockholm’s main streets, they harass those around them, damage gates, commit assault – and in this context it is barely mentioned.

Because the shock moved on to the Tele2 Arena where a few individuals, as they always say, a few individuals, created hell and exposed their fellow human beings to danger.

The few individuals are a myth. It is the great mass that makes the activities of the few criminals possible. There was a large crowd that marched along Götgatan på Söder and was escorted by the police, who were not allowed to intervene.

As usual when it has been there is a lot of talk about the fantastic football culture and that the supporters mean so much.

Consequently, AIK’s team captain Alexander Milosevic says this in Dagens Nyheter after the scandal in Stockholm last Sunday.

– … we have to be honest and say that supporters are a big part of Swedish football… Then it is clear that negative things are never good, but I will never stand here and talk negatively about the supporters…

So this is what a grown man says about other grown men who have come to Götgatan in search of a fight, a couple of thousand grown people, and the police already knew that it would be troubled and that the traffic would be stopped but did not intervene.

The crowd damaged gates along the way. Pinked. There were “a few cases of abuse”, the police spokesperson tells me.

Is there any other phenomenon where this is normal? What if the grown-up men in Stockholm’s Philatelist Association were to pull up on Götgatan and attack peaceful citizens, pick on people, break down gates?

Horse girls?

The Swedish Skiing Association?

Or if the participants in the mosque above Björn’s garden on Södermalm would pour down Götgatan after the Friday prayer and attack people a little randomly – someone who looks askance, someone who appears to be a Christian?

The religious carry such great feelings!

Would the police “accompany” and observe?

I do not think so.

But when football fools pour into the street, it’s somehow understandable. AIK’s team captain even says that he has to show “love” to the team’s supporters.

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Football culture is scary.

Some men divide into different teams and try to kick a ball between two posts. Those who kick the ball in the most times win.

Described as such, it is a pleasant diversion. But this is an activity that causes grown men to throw firebombs and bang shots and fight and abuse and tear down riot fences.

Yes, grown men.

Because no one has heard of similar scenes in women’s football, have they?

Grown men and football.

Because no one has heard of similar scenes in hockey, handball, wire, fireball, croquet, golf, horse jumping, hurdles, basketball or orienteering?

It is as if society is helpless in the face of a certain kind of violence. Or makes himself helpless.

And the hooligans can bring bangers and flares into the arena to put others in danger. How do these weapons get in?

– It has eluded us for 30 years, says the police spokesman.

Maybe it’s about fear. The football hooligans are not to be trifled with. When AIK player Jimmy Durmaz says: “Of course it’s sad when things like that happen, but I understand their frustration.”

…at least I sense an undertone of concern.

It also shines through when senior representatives of elite football stood in Aktuelltstudion on Monday and AIK’s chairman said with an incredibly defensive tone:

“It’s not ok.”

So that these supporters commit:

Abuse.

Assault against Officer.

Blue light sabotage.

Violent riot on two occasions.

Damage.

These are some of the crimes the police have noted so far.

The vandalism, the fights, the terrorism with Bengal fires happens because it is allowed to happen. Civilization is a thin veneer that is preserved by laws and that the laws are obeyed.

Only when it comes to football does society stand by helplessly while the pathetic horde marches through the capital.