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Fans of AIK and Djurgårdens experienced a major scare during the derby on Sunday (10) in the Swedish league. A section of the stands at Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, where the match was held and where the Swedish national team usually plays, caught fire, causing a frantic evacuation.
After an intense start, Djurgårdens led 2-1 until the 25th minute of the first half, when the referee was forced to stop the game. The fire spread quickly through the stands, prompting players to leave the field while fans tried to move away from the flames.
Fire in the stand terrifies fans in Sweden — Photo: Reproduction/X
Soon, a cloud of smoke engulfed the stadium. Firefighters rushed to the scene and used high-pressure hoses to control the blaze, while security personnel helped escort fans to safety. AIK, the home team, confirmed that no one was injured.
Smoke filled the stadium in Sweden after a fire in the stands — Photo: Reproduction/X
According to local media, the fire was ignited by flares in the stands, though there is no official confirmation of the cause.
After a few minutes of stoppage, the match resumed, and Djurgårdens scored another goal in first-half stoppage time. However, early in the second half, home fans once again set off flares, delaying the restart. The players were then called to an emergency meeting with the match delegate.
“We had a scenario where, according to the regulations, we needed a meeting to discuss the game. It was a very effective meeting. We got the green light from the police and the organizer. They have the situation under control,” said match delegate Hans Larsson to TV4.
With everything under control, both teams returned for the second half. Djurgårdens won the match 4-2, leaving AIK in a difficult position as they chase league leaders Sirius, who hold an eight-point advantage.