The SM gold can be awarded at the Hitachi Energy Arena on Saturday.
If Malmö FF beats Västerås, the sky-blue mittens will put their hands on Lennart Johansson’s trophy also in 2024. And from the southern parts of the country, the supporters travel in droves to see the potential golden match.
Johan Immelgård is acting club manager in VSK:
– We think there will be between 3,500 and 4,000 MFF supporters. We have sold out the entire arena except for the home stand, and we cannot open that stand to the public.
He believes that the home team, as the organizer, has a “very good plan” for how to handle a possible gold celebration:
– We have excellent dialogue with MFF, their security officer and the police. We have had several meetings and will have more before the match, says Immelgård to Fotbollskanalen.
– We have a place we call “Plåthallen” which holds 2,000 people. It is outside the arena and there the MFF fans will have their upload. It’s very popular, with food trucks and beer. It’s good for the police too. Everyone gathers there and it’s easy to get there and from there.
A usual plan storming is difficult to prevent in the case of gold for MFF, says Immelgård. Both he and VSK are aware of that.
– God forbid, because I think we will win. But if I’m wrong, there are preparations for a plane storm. I don’t think our supporters will do anything. Should Malmö win, they’ll probably go home pretty quickly because they don’t want to see the celebration.
How will you prevent something from happening?
– We have a very close dialogue with Malmö regarding how they acted in previous gold matches. We will have riot fences, security guards and crowd hosts on the pitch just before the final signal if MFF leads. Then, in a few minutes, we will set up safety zones with barriers.
Will you be able to prevent a plane storm?
– It’s hard to stop. We will say that they are not allowed, but if there are 3,000 people, we cannot have 500 security guards to stop it. And the police won’t go in either. It is forbidden and against all rules, but I will not put my staff in any risk situation in case it happens.
– If enough people decide to run in, there is not much we can do.
It is easy to focus on gold-chasing MFF in a match like this. But for VSK, the points at stake are at least as important, in the hunt for a new Allsvenskan contract.
With four rounds remaining, the green and whites have five points up on Halmstad in the negative qualifying spot.
– A victory is a victory: absolutely wonderful. But it would be even nicer to snap MFF on the nose when they think they are going to come here and take the SM gold. When we played in Malmö, we were about to win, so anything can happen. For me, it’s victory that matters and I firmly believe in the boys. They will be extra tagged.
Immelgård jokingly adds:
– It’s more fun for the whole of Malmö to take the SM gold at home, with many more people on site.
That’s your call to MFF: wash the match?
– Haha, a little like that! Although I don’t want to win on unsportsmanlike grounds, laughs Immelgård.
– An underestimation on their part and extra tagging from ours would make it insanely exciting. I think we’ll walk away with the win. So all supporters of MFF will have to go home and wait a week to celebrate gold.
The Upcoming SM Gold Match: Chaos or Celebration?
Well, folks, mark your calendars for Saturday, because things are about to get a bit *heated* at the Hitachi Energy Arena! If Malmö FF pulls off a win against Västerås, we could be witnessing a gold celebration worthy of… well, a lot of awkward group selfies and questionable karaoke.
One Team’s Triumph, Another’s Struggle
As the blue mittens gear up to grab their paws on Lennart Johansson’s illustrious trophy, the excitement is palpable—not only among Malmö supporters but also from the good folks of Västerås, who are keenly aware of what’s at stake. Johan Immelgård, the acting manager for VSK, had a chuckle about the expected turnout of Malmö fans. A staggering 3,500 to 4,000 sky-blue warriors are anticipated to flood the arena. Think about it: that’s almost like a small town migrating to watch a bigger town show off!
Now, Immelgård has a ‘very good plan’ in place for managing the potential chaos that could ensue from a gold celebration. There’s talk of an over-crowded “Plåthallen”—which, if you’re wondering, is not a fancy Swedish nightclub but rather a venue holding 2,000 fans that serves food trucks and beer. Because really, what’s better than a party before a party? Perfect for those fans who’d want to party hard after their team possibly drops the hammer on their opponents. And let’s not forget about the police; it’s a win-win situation for maintaining order while everyone gets nice and toasty!
“God Forbid” and Other Solutions
But hold on to your Swedish meatballs! Immelgård humorously expresses, “God forbid, because I think we will win.” Oh, the optimism! But can we blame him? In a thrilling face-off, both teams have something crucial on the line—VSK is fighting to escape the qualifying spots, and you can be sure they’d love nothing more than a win over Malmö. Talk about motivation!
When it comes to the safety protocols, these folks are no amateurs. They’ve enlisted riot fences, security guards, and crowd hosts—all primed and ready to jump in at the first sign of jubilant chaos. “It’s hard to stop,” says Immelgård regarding potential pitch invasions. Yet, he puts on a brave face while also ensuring that his staff isn’t thrown into a lion’s den. Let’s face it: thousands of fans surging forward is often harder to contain than a toddler on a sugar rush!
The Call for Sportsmanship
And speaking of sportsmanship, just check out Immelgård’s cheeky little suggestion to MFF. “Haha, a little like that! Although I don’t want to win on unsportsmanlike grounds.” Isn’t that the spirit? Glory is all fine and good, but let’s channel that energy into a good old-fashioned competitive spirit rather than tossing chairs or, you know, storming the field like a stampede of particularly enthusiastic reindeer!
All said and done, Sunday promises to be all-consuming—whether it results in boisterous celebrations or tragic early exits for Malmö fans. One thing’s for sure: if Västerås can score a surprise victory, those sky-blue fans may find themselves sitting in their vans, listening to sad breakup songs for at least a week. Now that’s *peak* football drama!
Conclusion
Who knew the sports world could be this entertaining? With hidden stakes and underlying tension, it’s a glorious mix of potential jubilation and absolute dread. So, grab your popcorn, keep your phones charged for updates, and let the games begin at the SM gold match. Cheers to good football, tricky social dynamics, and a little bit of chaos! May the best team win—without storming the pitch, ideally!
