Chelsea's Conference League opponents in chaos as chairman quits over racism storm
Djurgarden chairman Lars-Erik Sjoberg has resigned his post ahead of the Swedish club's Conference League semi-final first leg against Chelsea. Vice-chairman Erik Gozzi has taken over as acting chairman following the resignation, which comes amid allegations Sjoberg shared xenophobic material on social media.
"Djurgården Fotboll announces today that our chairman, Lars-Erik Sjöberg, has chosen to leave his position early," a club statement published on Tuesday read. "Lars-Erik has been a central part of the association's management since he was elected to the board in 2007, and has served as chairman since 2013.
"Under his leadership, the association has strengthened its position in Swedish football through significant sporting successes, strong financial stability and organizational development. We extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to Lars-Erik Sjöberg for his dedicated work and invaluable contributions to the good of the association."
The claims about Sjoberg's alleged behaviour were made by by Swedish newspaper Expressen. The publication says he has shared "xenophobic messages and posts from right-wing radical opinion leaders and profiles," mentioning his sharing of content from a Facebook group entitled 'Katerina Janouch - journalism and debate'.
Expressen reports that "large amounts of racism, Muslim hatred and xenophobia are spread in both posts and comment fields". Janouch is a Swedish journalist and author whose posts on X have also reportedly been shared by Sjoberg.
"I read and share very little of what is there. But it is interesting to follow," Sjoberg told Expressen, arguing none of his social media activity conflicts with the club's core values. "However, the thing is that we in Djurgården are an association, and football is the best proof that we do not separate people.
"We have players with different ethnicities. It is the merit that determines whether you play in Djurgården. Nothing else. I have no xenophobic views or whatever word you are trying to use. I have friends from all possible religions. I have friends from all ethnicities, so I would not think of it.
"If there is something on her side that has that, then I have no problem completely distancing myself from that. It is so foreign to my own view of society. However, that does not mean that they cannot be right on certain issues."
Djurgarden, who play in Stockholm, qualified for the Conference League after finishing fourth in the Swedish top-flight in 2023. They came through three qualifying rounds to progress to the league phase, picking up 13 points from a possible 18.
They beat Cypriot side Pafos in the round of 16 before overcoming Rapid Wien in the quarter-finals. They needed extra-time to get past the Austrian team, losing 1-0 at home before winning 4-1 in 120 minutes in Vienna.
Chelsea sealed their own progress by beating FC Copenhagen in the round of 16 and Legia Warsaw in the quarter-finals. The winner of the two- legged semi-final will play one of Fiorentina or Real Betis in the final on May 28.
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