S: We want to give IFK Norrköping an eloge
This is a debate article. It is the writer who stands for the opinions that are presented in the text, not Aftonbladet.
Published 2025-07-03 10.00
Footnote: In this debate article, Social Minister Jakob Forssmed (KD) is quoted. As Sportbladet previously wrote, the Minister believes that a substantial part was cut in one of Radio Sports’ elements and that his quote has therefore been misinterpreted. How Forssmed reasoned Available to read here.
DEBATE. When IFK Norrköping recently went out and talked about pressure from an agent aimed at the club and one of their players, they put light on a problem that has been silenced for far too long in Swedish sports. We want to give IFK Norrköping an eloge because they dare to stand up and break with the agent. More clubs are needed that do the same.
For behind the headings there is a larger pattern: an agent activity that in some cases risks being kidnapped by criminal forces. It is about financial irregularities, threats, and connections to organized crime – with young players in the squeeze.
The Social Democrats have three suggestions
From a political point of view, we need to take this seriously and we Social Democrats have three proposals to access this problem that eats into the football body.
Firstly A national system is needed for registering and licensing agents, with stricter requirements and better transparency.
Secondly If the legislation needs to be reviewed to make it more difficult for criminal actors to work in the world of sports. We Social Democrats also want to introduce a Swedish mafia team to crack criminal corporate structures.
Thirdly If the police need to be given a special assignment to work against crimes in sports – an area that today receives disproportionately little attention compared to, for example, pyrotechnics and disorders at the stands.
Sports Minister Jakob Forssmed recently claimed in an interview that there is a direct connection between “unhealthy supporter culture” at the stands and match fixing in elite football. We wonder how the government makes this connection? We see that organized match manipulation is rather linked to financial crime and criminal networks than the habitation violence and supporters’ use of pyrotechnics.
Mixing these phenomena risks reducing the real threat from the actors who actually make money from manipulating matches. At the same time, it is a mockery against all the fire souls who gild our football matches and engage our young people.
As money moves ever further down the ages increases the risk of young players being exploited
We see a growing problem that concerns both elite football and breadth sports. Match fixing, rail transitions, financial arrangements to wash money – unfortunately it is also a reality in Sweden today. And as money moves ever further down the ages, the risk of young players being used.
Society must stop turning a blind eye to the crime in football. It is no longer a marginal problem. And it requires collaboration – between politics, sports, the judiciary and civil society.
We hope that clubs and covenants that dare to tell you will receive the support they need and deserve. IFK Norrköping shows the way. Now the rest of society needs to follow.
Teresa Carvalho (S), forensic spokesperson
Lars Isacsson (S), MP in the Justice Committee, former municipal council’s chairman in Avesta
