April 15 – A Swedish first division game abandoned after a supporter died in clashes before kick-off will not be replayed.
The fan of the Stockholm club Djurgarden died from head injuries sustained in an assault before his team’s season-opening fixture at Helsingborg.
The match was abandoned four minutes before half-time with the score at 1-1 when angry Djurgarden fans stormed the pitch as word spread of the fatality which occurred about 30 minutes before kickoff.
It was the first fatality since 2002 when a 26-year-old man was killed during clashes between supporters of AIK and IFK Goteborg in Stockholm.
The Swedish FA said on its website that they had decided to stick to the 1-1 scoreline, explaining they had made an exception to the rule. Under normal circumstances, Helsingborg would be awarded a 3-0 victory following a pitch invasion by opposing fans.
The federation said it had not ordered a replay out of respect for the deceased fan and to avoid fresh incidents.
“The circumstances were such that the normal rules for abandoned games do not apply. It also means that there are serious reasons for using the exemption rule, which means that the game cannot be resumed,” the federation’s disciplinary body said in its judgment.
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