Stockholm clubs might face punishment because of violent fans

Stockholm clubs Djurgarden and Hammarby might have to be punished by the Swedish Football Association after their match on Monday, which was stopped because fans stormed the field and hit a linesman in the head by a thrown object, AP reports.

The game was called off in the second half with Djurgarden leading 3-0 after angry Hammarby fans lit fires in the stands, shot fireworks onto the field and several supporters broke through a line of policemen to rush onto the pitch.

The game had been temporarily suspended in the first half, after an object thrown from the stands hit a linesman in the head. Djurgarden officials said the object was probably thrown by one of its supporters.

"This is the biggest scandal that has happened to Swedish soccer," Hammarby coach Anders Linderoth said. "I can't remember another game being stopped because fans stormed the field."

A disciplinary committee for the Swedish Football Association would meet later Tuesday to discuss the incident, but a punishment was not expected until next week.

Both teams could be docked up to six points in the standings of Sweden's top league Allsvenskan, and could be forced to play a number of home games with the stands empty.

Hammarby is in third place, trailing leading side AIK by three points. Djurgarden is in sixth place, another two points behind.

The incident caused Sune Hellstromer, who heads the football association, to call for stricter laws allowing police to banish known hooligans from the games.

"We want to see a tougher attitude against the soccer violence, and laws similar to those in England," Hellstromer said.

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