The key facts
- Part of the away section's flooring collapsed in the 40th minute of the match, and two fans fell from a height of several meters
- 25-year-old Sigurd Støver suffered a broken rib after his brother fell on top of him
- The club had carried out a scheduled inspection of the stand shortly before the incident and declared the structure safe
What happened at the stadium
On November 8, during a Norwegian top-division match between Tromsø and Bodø/Glimt at the Romssa Arena stadium, part of the away section's flooring collapsed. The incident occurred at around the 40th minute of the match, when Bodø/Glimt fans were jumping and cheering for their team. Two men fell from a height of several meters, reports Life.ru, citing the Norwegian publication VG.
The injured and the resumption of the match
One of the injured was 25-year-old Sigurd Støver. According to him, his brother fell on top of him, causing him to suffer a broken rib. The injured man was taken to hospital, and the remaining spectators were evacuated from the dangerous section. The match was suspended: after consultations with the police, football officials and club representatives, the fans were relocated to other stands, and the match was played to completion. Bodø/Glimt won 2:0.
Pre-incident inspection and the club's response
Particular attention to the incident is drawn by the fact that just over a week earlier, the Norwegian Football Federation had required clubs to check the condition of their stadiums — fan sections and structures subject to increased load during matches were the priority. Tromsø's management confirmed that it had complied with the directive and carried out a scheduled inspection. Club chairman William Frantsen stated that the stand had an operating permit, and called what happened a serious incident. According to VG, the club carried out a routine inspection of the structure before the collapse.
What the police are doing
The police are dealing with the circumstances of the collapse. Law enforcement officers intend to examine the documents on the stand inspection, interview the fans who fell and the club's management. For now, a preliminary inquiry has been opened: a decision on launching a criminal investigation has not yet been made. Thus, the key question — whether the inspection carried out before the match corresponded to the actual condition of the structure — remains open pending the interviews and examination of the documents.
