The derby referee’s choice between AIK and Djurgården was met with criticism.
Stefan Johansson, with seven seasons as an AIK player, was one of the two main referees.
– I think it’s strange, says Ludwig Runsfeldt.
This makes referee Björn Wettergren’s rule go to the roof.
“I am so sorry for the disrespect.”he writes in a comment for Sportbladet.
There were many who raised their eyebrows when the referees were introduced for the third derby match of the season. The names of Daniel Wiesner and Stefan Johansson appeared in the lineup.
It was the latter who drew attention when he represented AIK during his seven-season football career.
“I think it’s strange.”
Fans reacted as well as sports director KG Stoppel.
“Really, Watju and I have told you about it many times.”writes Stoppel in an SMS message to Sportbladet.
The match developed into a chaotic storyline that involved a total of 90 minutes of dismissals. Ludvig Rensfeldt was also on the same track as Stoppel.
– It’s weird. I don’t know what you think. It’s weird. There are many referees in Allsvenskan who have not played in AIK. I can agree with our supporters, it’s weird.
Do you think that was noticed in the refereeing performance?
– I will not criticize the judges. I hope they did their best, says Rensfeldt.
Rule rages on: ‘I’m very disappointed’
Questioning the referee’s choice led to referee Bjorn Wettergren’s rule surfacing.
“I am very sorry for the lack of respect for the judges. This is a professional league. Stefan is a professional. No one questions whether Olle Liss would try to score an own goal on purpose when Djurgården meets Björklöven just because he has ‘history’ there. Or was it a problem that Matthias Carlin coached Fastervik when he met Modo? No, professionals are supposed to be professionals. But when it comes to judges, they show completely different values. In WC you can even judge your country. There, they put this nonsense behind them”he writes in a short message to Sportbladet.
Would you like to see more ex-players as referees?
He understands that criticism can come from supporters, but he believes that then you don’t have the full picture.
“Of course you can think Stefan is a bad judge if you want to. But to suggest he would be unprofessional is unfair. I see how much time he spends and how he hangs his head after a foul. I can understand if he’s coming from supporters. They live for Their team. What you don’t see is the referees living for ‘their team’. They want to be good judges. They want to make the playoffs. SHL. WC.”Continue.
Wettergren also notes that they would like to have more referees who were active players and that they were bound to be “burdened” by clubs in the league.
“That should make us feel good. But then the industry has to accept that you were an elite player with a background on an elite team or more,” Concludes.
