PLAY THE ADVANTAGE

It’s a position a referee never wants to be in.

Martin Hansson, one of Sweden’s top referees, was overseeing the first game of the Swedish season with Djurgarden at Helsingborgs.

Approximately 30 minutes before the match, a man was attacked by rival fans. Sadly, he did not survive.

Though the match began, word of the man’s death spread, and distraught Djurgarden fans invaded the pitch. Hansson took the players off at 42 minutes. At halftime, he and the stadium officials decided to suspend the match.

It was the right thing to do. I love this game; we all do. But it is just a game, and to go on after someone lost their life just for loving football wouldn’t have been right.

I wish everyone involved, especially the family, peace.