The elite series match between Bodø/Glimt and Haugesund at Aspmyra on 3 August was stopped after ten minutes after a bunch of the home team’s supporters threw fishballs onto the artificial grass. Reason: They want an end to video refereeing in Norwegian football. During the break of the match, the supporters had their ears fluttered by general manager Frode Thomassen. – To continue with such childish streaks in the bottom two or three rows is to kill football. It’s not about football, not VAR, Thomassen told TV 2 during the break. – I find it incredibly sad and boring. This is about something completely different. This is about to become a separate issue, he continued. In the weeks following the protests, the management in Glimt considered how they should react to the fishbowl throwers. Now the conclusion has fallen. Nine people have been banned from Bodø/Glimt’s home games. The club is working to identify a further nine who they believe were part of the protest, says Frode Thomassen to news. – We have spent time identifying who was behind the unwanted incident during the match against Haugesund. We have not finished that process, but there are currently nine people to whom we have sent letters. They were given the opportunity to express themselves, and today we have sent them the administrative decision, which states that they are banned. It was TV 2 that first reported the bans. Track crews are working to remove the fish balls after some supporters threw them onto the track. Photo: mats torbergsen / NTB 30 games The length of the punishment varies, but it ranges from 15 to 30 games, Thomassen can tell news. What kind of punishment each individual receives depends on whether the person concerned has been banned or received any disciplinary reactions in the past. Those who have it get the longest sentence. As long as the punishment is served, the supporters will also be banned from Bodø/Glimt’s women’s team’s matches. Rosenborg just gave a penalty to the supporters who took part in a similar VAR protest, which led to the match against Lillestrøm being interrupted. There, the supporters were “sentenced” to refurbish the “shack” which is the clubhouse of RBK. – There are some who would say that this is a severe punishment for throwing fishballs? – We have made a decision today which we believe is balanced in relation to the incident that occurred. It could have been more. They could have been banned for 60 games, but we settled for half. Frode Thomassen together with trainer Kjetil Knutsen. Thomassen was upset about the throwing of fish balls earlier in August, and now some of those responsible have received their punishment. Photo: Mats Torbergsen / NTB – No one else was banned Mads Skauge is a spokesman for the supporters on the J field. He tells news that he has no opinion on whether the punishment is right or wrong. – But I register that no one else has been punished with a ban after similar VAR protests, he says. Skauge points out that there have been a number of protests against video refereeing at several stadiums throughout the summer. At Lerkendal in the match between Rosenborg and Lillestrøm, it went so far that the match was cancelled, among other things after fishcakes had hailed onto the pitch. – And there no punishment was handed out like here. There, the guilty were forced to do voluntary work at Brakka. It was a very sympathetic punishment. The spokesman emphasizes that Bodø/Glimt has the right to ban the supporters. – And that’s fine, but they also know that they are the only club that does it that way. Supports the goal for the throw As for the fishbowl throw itself, Skauge says that he supports the goal – namely that VAR should be removed – but he did not support the action. – It is because I predicted that it would work against its purpose. And they also received a lot of negative feedback from the rest of the audience. Without saying anything about the punishment, Skauge says that it is possible to understand that the management fears that the protests will repeat themselves. – They are worried that the matches will be canceled because of this. It is particularly critical for Bodø/Glimt, who have such a tight match schedule throughout the autumn. But I also have some sympathy with those who from their point of view did a legitimate action, but they stepped a little wrong and are now banned for several matches? Published 16.08.2024, at 15.09 Updated 16.08.2024, at 15.25
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Punished after fishbowl throwing and VAR protest – news Nordland
