Today, Swedish Professional Football Leagues participated in a follow-up meeting on football-related security issues at the Government Offices in Stockholm. The meeting focused on security issues during the 2024 season, with a look ahead to 2025.
“The security situation has generally been much better this year compared to the 2023 season, but there have also been a number of recent matches with incidents we strongly condemn and take very seriously,” said Simon Åström, Chairman of Swedish Professional Football Leagues.
Meetings between football stakeholders have been held regularly for some time now. This meeting, which included the participation of Sports Minister Jakob Forssmed (Christian Democrats), was the fourth in a series and had been planned well in advance. In addition to representatives from the government and Svensk Elitfotboll, attendees included the Swedish Football Association (SvFF), the Swedish Sports Confederation (RF), the Players’ Association, the Swedish Football Supporters’ Union (SFSU), stadium companies, as well as the police and prosecutor’s office.
During the meeting, all parties provided their perspectives on the security situation at Swedish elite football arenas during the 2024 season. Swedish Professional Football Leagues’s new guidelines and the collaboration between football and authorities in 2024 were highlighted as areas of positive development.
“The handful of matches with major disturbances are unacceptable, and we take them very seriously, condemning them in the strongest terms. We need to be self-critical and make further progress for next season, and we will do this together with all football stakeholders. Everyone involved must take responsibility to ensure a safe and secure environment at football matches in Allsvenskan or Superettan,” continued Simon Åström.
“It is also important to point out that, overall, all trends have moved in the right direction this year. The 2024 season has, in many respects, been calmer than 2023, with significantly fewer disturbances. Our clubs are taking significant responsibility as organizers, investing considerable focus and energy into this work. Internationally, the trend is often moving in the opposite direction, but this is not the case here.”
All meeting participants remain in agreement that the exclusion strategy is the correct approach. The upcoming release of the government’s investigation, led by Anders Hübinette, is expected to influence work in 2025.
“Hübinette’s investigation will obviously be important. We hope our perspectives have been heard in this investigation. We will need support from all parties and must work together to ensure this initiative has an impact. Everyone has a responsibility, including those working in football and those attending matches. We feel we have very good cooperation with both the supporter movement and the relevant authorities, and this collaboration and open dialogue will be key to continuing efforts to ensure safe events in 2025,” Simon Åström concluded.
The work to improve and develop security at football matches in Allsvenskan and Superettan, along with cooperation with other stakeholders, will continue through the winter. Progress will be reported at upcoming meetings with the government.
