What was supposed to be a top match in Division 6 ended in violent chaos at Slottsvallen in Hökerum. Around 80 people were on the field. Punches, kicks, and blood. Children were forced to witness the chaos. Now, referee Erik Jullander is considering quitting officiating football.
Södra Vings IF hosted Somali AIF on Friday evening. The guests won 4–3, but after the final whistle, the situation spun out of control as players, staff, and spectators ended up in a large brawl.
Referee Erik Jullander describes it as something he’s never seen before in Sjuhärad football. According to him, about 80 people were on the pitch when the tumult broke out.
Jullander tried to intervene and get the players to leave the field, but was eventually forced to leave himself to avoid getting hurt.
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– It really escalated and I had to get out of there to avoid being caught up in it myself. I saw at least one player who was bloodied and had a swollen face. It was shocking to see so much violence. From my perspective, Somali AIF went on some sort of attack and it felt coordinated, he told Borås Tidning.
Now Jullander is considering quitting as a football referee. What hit him the hardest is that his ten-year-old son was among the spectators and saw the violence. Other children and young people also witnessed the incident. He says the fight kills all joy for football.
“Pure assault”
The accusations from Södra Vings are serious. Coach Zoran Simunovic claims that after the final whistle, several players from Somali AIF ran towards Södra Vings’ bench, threatened people and started fighting. Spectators are also said to have entered the field and participated.
One Södra Vings player reportedly received a punch to the jaw, while another supposedly suffered cuts to his face and marks on his back from being kicked.
– This wasn’t a fight. This was a pure assault from the Somali side.
Simunovic says the club will report the incident to the police.
Somali: We were provoked
Somali AIF rejects the claim that their team started the fight. Player Mohamed Ahmed alleges that a verbal attack from Södra Vings’ coaching staff was directed at one of Somali’s players. Teammates then stepped in to protect him. After that, people from the crowd reportedly entered the field.
Ahmed also accuses Södra Vings’ coach of provoking Somali players during the match. Somali’s football director Yasin Mohamed also puts responsibility on the opposing team, saying Södra Vings could not accept losing.
Police Report After the Chaos
As of Saturday morning, the police had no information about any intervention or report, but by Monday it was confirmed that an assault report had been filed concerning the incident.
There will also be a sporting aftermath. The incident will be reported to the football federation.
For Erik Jullander, the consequences could be even greater. After seeing a Division 6 match turn into a violent brawl in front of, among others, his ten-year-old son, he is now considering quitting as a referee.
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