IFK Göteborg led 1-0 at halftime after a goal by Kolbeinn Thordarson. However, tens of spectators on both Blåvitt's and Gais's supporter stands sabotaged the Allsvenskan derby by performing organized actions with pyrotechnics.
This is something none of us like. It's sad when it affects the sport, says Gais coach Fredrik Holmberg.
According to match delegate Nicklas Lauwell, who was interviewed in Max's broadcast, it was about nearly 500 Bengal lights and pyrotechnic devices.
It exploded on both sides of the arena, and we couldn't see if everyone was safe. That's why we had to pause the match, said Lauwell.
Two minutes of fireworks
The sabotage began when the second half was about to start. Tens of individuals, scattered across IFK Göteborg's standing-room-only section, lit a series of fireworks. The crackling shooting from the stands out onto the field lasted for nearly two minutes while the speaker announced that pyrotechnics are prohibited inside the arena.
When the second half finally kicked off, the Gais crowd responded in sync. A large number of Bengal lights were lit simultaneously across the entire short side. And after just over two minutes of play, a powerful bang from a so-called banger – also from the Gais side – occurred.
Then, referee Joakim Östling ordered the players to leave Gamla Ullevi's grass. It resulted in an extra 45-minute break.
We wanted to take the time needed to make this feel as safe as possible, said Nicklas Lauwell to Max.
Billborn's first home win
Unusual things happened on the field as well. IFK Göteborg won an Allsvenskan football match after ten games without a win. It was coach Stefan Billborn's first home win with IFK Göteborg. It came on the seventh attempt.
This win can be a bit season-defining, so we start winning matches, says Billborn.
Laurs Skjellerup scored 2-0 with the outside of his right foot, after Paulos Abrahams well-timed heel pass and substitute Anders Trondsen's exact play. Then, half an hour remained, but Gais couldn't recover.
We lost fairly. They were better than us and played the derby in a smarter and better way. We were unrecognizable, says Gais coach Fredrik Holmberg.
Gais's unbeaten streak stopped at six matches.
IFK Göteborg's win took the team past Värnamo and IFK Norrköping, up to eleventh place.
