HJK has had enough of supporters’ disruptive behavior.
In Thursday’s home match against Molde, spectacular flares were seen at the end of HJK. Kimmo Brandt / EPA / AOP
The Helsinki Football Club will have to pay a total of 19,900 euros in fines for disruptive behavior in the stands during the Veikkausliiga season, the club informs.
HJK will also close the end stands, Klubipäädy and Junnupäädy, in their first two home matches next season.
According to HJK, the fines have come from the disruptive behavior of spectators at home and away matches.
– HJK strongly condemns any kind of disruptive behavior in a football match. The direction is worrying. Especially the violence against the staff and the organized violation of security regulations arouse concern and wonder, the release says.
In addition, HJK has to pay 16,125 euros in fines for home matches under Uefa, when supporters storm the field in the Klaksvík match. In the Olimpija match, objects were thrown onto the field.
The amount of the fine will increase, as the disciplinary decisions from the events of the last Molde home game will be announced later.
– Record-breaking fines, several tens of thousands of euros to UEFA’s already chubby bank account can be expected.
A record number
HJK says that it invested during this year in identifying as many of those guilty of disruptive behavior as possible. A record number of identifications were made, and the club denied entry to the match 84 times. During the matches, there were 42 arrests and 47 expulsions from the stands.
– The starting point is that persons who have committed illegal acts in the stands and who have been identified for the acts are not welcome to HJK’s home or away matches, the release states.
HJK wants to intervene in disruptive behavior better than seen now. The club has supported supporter culture and paid for, among other things, a capo stand for HJK’s fan end and enabled a tifo winch.
– However, HJK’s comprehensive measures have not been enough. Disruptive behavior has been seen in the stands and outside the stands. Together with the authorities, HJK is investigating new ways to deal with disruptive behavior. The problem must be tackled firmly. The time for warnings and discussion is now over.
HJK emphasizes that a small part of HJK’s supporters are guilty of disruptive behavior. However, it has caused a lot of bad things, and the club does not accept the excesses seen during the season.
HJK also throws the ball to the Football Association and hopes that the association will support the clubs in order to eradicate disruptive behavior.
HJK says that he filed a criminal report with the police about the damage done in the stands. According to the association, several criminal investigations related to disruptive behavior are still ongoing and some have already progressed to prosecution.
HJK To put it mildly, it describes the behavior of a small part of HJK’s fans. Matti Raivio / AOP