SHL team President quits after confrontation with fans following loss

The President and CEO of a Swedish Hockey League team has handed in his resignation following a confrontation with 30 to 40 fans after a recent game that ended in a 2-1 loss. Niclas Bjorkman, who's been with Linköping for close to two seasons, said he's endured threats, confrontations, and violations from fans the entire season, adding the recent incident was the last straw.

"There have been some minor incidents during the season, but now it escalated," said Bjorkman. "With hindsight, perhaps we should have reacted earlier. On one occasion another LHC employee was involved, on the other two I was alone with a bunch of so-called supporters. It became a strange and crowded situation that didn't feel right."

"It's tough when there are 30 people standing and shouting at you," Bjorkman continued.

"I may not have taken it so seriously before, but when the family reacts and you lump everything together, it becomes an unpleasant threat."

"I was very sad, angry and scared," said Bjorkman, while explaining that he consulted with his family before handing in his resignation. "Then when the family is also affected. It's not worth it. In my world, it's just sports. I understand that you can be disappointed, but this is way over the line and downright disastrous."

Linköping HC agrees completely with Bjorkman's assessment of the situation.

"This type of people, who have subjected Niclas to this, are and will never be welcome at Linköping Hockey Club," said the team's chairperson in a release. "Such people who expose our employees to the kind of actions that have taken place, we do not want to have anything at all to do with. We must change this culture around Linköping Hockey Club immediately."

Linköping will finish the season near the bottom of the SHL standings.

Source: AftonBladet

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