Girona / Stockholm. An unexciting first half on the field.
At the same time, there was a threat that Sweden’s training match against Mexico would be cancelled.
– Commentator Adam Penthorpe says in his book Si More, “It’s very unusual for them to be publicized.”
Sweden’s tight World Cup reserves kept Mexico out of their hottest scoring chances. It was a fairly uneventful first half at the Estadi Montilivi in Girona, Spain.
However, not all spectators can act themselves, if the arena announcer is to be believed. At the end of the first half, a call came through the public address system.
“I do not understand”
– A sound came out from the loudspeaker. Discriminatory shouts from the stands. Commentator Adam Penthorpe at C Moore says it is unusual for it to be announced that if it happens again, the match will be cancelled.
During the break, C.Moore reporter Matthias Tjernström stated that the broadcaster’s threat was due to racist slurs.
– I didn’t understand exactly what was being shouted at, but as I understood it, it was a form of racist expression. Against whom I don’t know, I’ve spoken to some in the Swedish leadership who just didn’t get it, says Tjernström on the telecast.
Explanation of the national team
The acting press director of the Swedish national team, Niklas Green, tried to get an idea of what happened at half-time.
– This is how I understand it: A small part of the audience used a word referring to homophobia in Mexican Spanish, Green tells Sportbladet.
– It’s not aimed at any specific player but rather something to shout about in general. The match will likely stop if it continues, hence the warning.
The majority of the spectators are Mexican fans.
The match is in progress – catch it here!