Swedish teen footballer charged after pitch attack

A 19-year-old man from Oskarshamn in southern Sweden has been charged with assault after he allegedly jumped on and kicked another player who was lying down on the pitch during a game.

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“I just flipped,” the teen told police in interrogation, according to local paper Smålandsposten.

The league game in the Swedish division six between the teen’s team Oskarshamns UBK and Åseda IF was played in May this year.

Spectators have said it was a calm match until the last few minutes.

After a tackle from the 19-year-old, one of the Åseda players fell flat on his back and the referee awarded Åseda a free kick.

The 19-year-old, who felt as if the other team had picked on him from the start of the match, then suddenly “flipped out”.

The player who was attacked in the outburst told police that he had been trying to shield himself with his arms as the 19-year-old kicked him and jumped on him.

The referee called the incident “especially ugly” and immediately sent the 19-year-old off.

The teen has admitted to kicking his opponent when questioned by police, but denied having jumped on him. He told police he might have kicked the lying man four times.

The police investigation found that one of the reasons for the altercation was mounting frustration after Oskarshamns, which had long had a three-goal lead in the game, found itself trailing Åseda 5-4 in the match's closing minutes, reported Smålandsposten.

“Several of the opposing team were on my case the whole game through,” said the 19-year-old to the police, according to the paper.

“Finally, I just had enough.”

When the legal proceedings begun in October the 19-year-old’s lawyer said his client would accept an order of summary punishment, but the prosecutor thinks that the case is serious enough to warrant a trial and has called three witnesses.

This is one of the first times in Kronoberg County history that events taking place during a football game have resulted in legal proceedings.

According to the paper, the injured footballer has demanded the 19-year-old pay him damages amounting to 12,000 kronor ($1,800).

No date has yet been set for the trial.

The Local/rm
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