Falu IF is in a deep economic crisis with large debts to both the municipality and the company Halltec. The club owes 550,000 kronor to Falu Municipality and may be thrown out of its facilities by next season due to unpaid debts. According to Hockeysverige, Fredrik Persson, chairman of Falu Municipality's culture and leisure committee, described the municipality's position, stating they cannot take more costs unless the association pays. According to Hockeysverige, Anders Kvarnström, sales manager at Halltec, described the company's frustration, noting they have been tolerant but there is a limit to how much money one can be owed. It remains unknown whether Falu IF will actually be evicted from its facilities for the next season, or what specific actions the municipality or Halltec will take if the club does not pay its debts.
Storvreta has been denied elite licenses several times in recent years due to poor economy. The club has tax debts of nearly 2.4 million kronor that have gone to the Enforcement Authority. The licensing committee's decision on whether to grant licenses to clubs with significant debts for the upcoming season is still pending.
We cannot take more costs unless the association pays.
AFC Eskilstuna has lost municipal support due to a political advertising controversy. The municipality has stopped the million-kronor support to AFC Eskilstuna, with the reason being political advertising at Tunavallen. According to Eskilstuna-Kuriren, Lars Andersson, chairman of Kommunföretag, described the club's actions as wrong and indicated that for the moment they have stopped support, then they will see how it continues. According to Eskilstuna-Kuriren, Håkan Ringkvist, AFC chairman, described the decision as a damn scandal.
IFK Karlskrona has filed for bankruptcy. The club has debts of 1.3 million kronor, including debts to the Swedish Handball Federation and short-term debts to bus companies and the municipality. It also has a bank loan of around 200,000 kronor.
We are forced to act. If we do not find a situation where we can find a solution, we must proceed with this. We cannot take more costs unless the association pays. If we have claims of over half a million kronor and do not receive revenue from it, we are pushed to a limit where we must act.
Municipal interventions are providing some relief for struggling clubs. IFK Östersund received a support of 670,500 kronor from the municipality in December last year to address acute problems. Örnsköldsvik Hockey Association has applied for a crisis support of 600,000 kronor from the culture and leisure committee.
The broader Hockeyettan league is facing a systemic crisis. Several clubs in Hockeyettan are in economic crisis, with many associations declining to play in the league for economic reasons. Kif Örebro has debts of nearly 1.6 million kronor with the Enforcement Authority. Guif has debts of 4.7 million kronor despite receiving three million from the municipality last year. The exact total debt figures for clubs like Guif and the hockey club in Blekinge are incomplete, as details are behind paywalls, and it is unknown how many clubs in Hockeyettan are currently in economic crisis and which ones are at risk of folding.
We have been quite tolerant and feel for Falu IF and Falu Municipality because covered ice surfaces are needed. Now we see that the hall is used a lot. It works well and fulfills its function. But we do not get paid. We have ended up in an intermediate situation where we do not know what is happening. There is a limit to how much money one can be owed.
What they have done is wrong.
I think it is a damn scandal.
For the moment we have done it, then we will see how it continues.