The playoff match between Kalmar and Södertälje has stirred up many emotions. According to Expressen, Kalmar's star player George Diaco has been threatened during the quarterfinal series. After the 2–1 match, Expressen reports that the Canadian has been threatened in recent days.
HockeyAllsvenskan's sports director Erik Ryman says, 'It's scaled down to families who also don't feel well. ' He added, 'Things have happened against some of the players. ' In the second quarterfinal match with Södertälje, Kalmar's George Diaco came into focus because he celebrated his goal against the opponents' fans to further fire up the atmosphere in the series.
This has been passed on to the security department at the association which cooperates with the clubs, but it's difficult to find them.
Today, when Södertälje equalized to 2–2 in matches, he was met by a banner from SSK fans with the words 'Fuck you Diaco'. This has forced the club, league, and association to act. The playoff series between Kalmar HC and Södertälje SK has largely been about one man, George Diaco.
' After the first quarterfinal match, there was considerable frustration in both camps because Kalmar's Carl-Johan Lerby received a match penalty but was not reported afterwards. ' Before Saturday's match, it escalated further from the supporter side with fireworks fired outside Kalmar's hotel the night before the game, and SSK fans tried to storm a pub with 30-40 people. SSK fans tried to storm a pub with opposing fans before the game.
There has been a real storm around the playoff series between Kalmar HC and Södertälje SK.