Danish Football Fan, 61, Convicted of Stadium Guard Assault

A Danish court has sentenced a 61-year-old man to 30 days in custody for attacking a security guard during a football match at Copenhagen's Brøndby Stadion, marking another instance of stadium violence in Scandinavian sport.

The assault occurred on April 30, 2025, midway through a Danish Cup semifinal between Brøndby IF and visiting Silkeborg IF. The perpetrator was detained by police approximately 30 minutes after the incident, while the match continued and ultimately ended 3-3. The Glostrup District Court issued its verdict on February 1, 2026.

The defendant was convicted under Danish law for vold mod vagt i gentagelsestilfælde—violence against a guard with prior convictions. This legal classification indicates the man had been previously sentenced for violent offences, making this conviction part of an established pattern rather than an isolated incident.

Despite the severity of the charge, the 61-year-old accepted the court's decision without appeal, a relatively unusual development in stadium assault cases where defendants often contest security guard testimony or claim self-defense.

The Danish prosecution authorities declined to disclose information about the suspect's residence, affiliations with football clubs, or membership in organized supporter groups—details that often emerge in cases involving hooliganism networks. Similarly, specifics regarding injuries sustained by the guard were not made public, limiting understanding of the assault's severity.

The case reflects broader challenges facing Scandinavian football venues, where security staff operate in an increasingly volatile environment. Denmark, like neighboring Sweden and Norway, has experienced recurring stadium violence tied to supporter rivalries and organized fan groups. Brøndby's matches, particularly those involving rivalry clubs, have historically attracted heightened security measures.