Supporter Protest Paralyzes Gamla Ullevi Kickoff
Thousands of supporters marched from Götaplatsen to Gamla Ullevi on Sunday, staging a synchronized silent protest that left IFK Göteborg’s Kommandobryggan section completely empty and the stands silent for the first 20 minutes of the match between IFK Göteborg and Malmö FF.
The demonstration directly targeted recent police interventions during matches, stemming from a November 1 derby between IFK Göteborg and Häcken. During that fixture at Nordic Wellness Arena on Hisingen, police entered the IFK Göteborg supporters’ section following the ignition of roughly 80 flares by masked fans, arresting about fifteen people during the match; nine people were arrested after the events.
Supporters remain silent before igniting flares and chanting
Organized supporter groups from both clubs agreed to remain silent during the opening 20 minutes, leaving IFK Göteborg’s Kommandobryggan entirely vacant at whistle-off. Malmö FF player Malte Frejd Pålsson described the atmosphere: Det var speciellt. Man är inte alls van vid det.
Once the 20-minute mark passed, both sets of fans filled their sections and ignited flares — a handful on the Malmö FF side followed by about fifty synchronized on IFK’s north stand — while chanting anti-police slogans and unfurling banners bearing the number 1312 and phrases such as Proportionalitetsprincipen borta.
Police maintained a distance and did not enter the stands during Sunday’s pyrotechnic display, with press spokesperson Jens Andersson saying officers would attempt to identify the masked individuals at a later stage.
Scoreless draw leaves both teams searching for rhythm
On the pitch, the high-stakes atmosphere translated into a gritty, scoreless draw that left both teams searching for offensive rhythm. Tobias Heintz hit the post in the first half and saw another shot go just outside the frame in the second half for the hosts, while Malmö struggled to break through a stubborn Göteborg block.
The scoreless result leaves IFK Göteborg in ninth place in the table with two rounds remaining, while Malmö FF sits in seventh place. Göteborg manager Joachim Björklund said he was satisfied with the physical effort and duel-winning intensity, while Malmö coach Gaute Helstrup noted that his side conceded too many counterattacking opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Gamla Ullevi Protest
Why did IFK Göteborg and Malmö FF fans stage a silent protest?
Organized supporter groups coordinated the 20-minute silence to protest police tactics and stadium raids during the November 1 derby between IFK Göteborg and BK Häcken.
Were any fans arrested during Sunday’s match at Gamla Ullevi?
No arrests were made during the match, though police confirmed plans to file reports for pyrotechnic use by masked individuals and to identify them at a later stage.
What were the final match results and league standings after the protest?
The match ended in a 0–0 draw, leaving Malmö FF in seventh place and IFK Göteborg in ninth place in the table with two rounds left to play.
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