– It annoys me that what could become FC Helsingør’s biggest match ever should be marred by the campaign currently being run against us on social media right now. Ahead of the start of the season, we entered into an agreement with NordicBet about our main sponsorship, which has been vital for the club to be able to establish the facilities we have, including the away section.
There is a misunderstanding that it was a requirement for our stadium dispensation that we created the large away section. That was not the case. There was merely a requirement that a segregated away section with its own entrance should be created. Our first draft was simply to fence off the embankment that was there, and then there would have been room for 350-400 people, as well as a very limited view. But we wanted to offer Super League football to as many as possible, including away fans. This could only be done with great goodwill from our sponsors. In that connection, we have made an agreement with NordicBet that they have control over a portion of the away tickets, and we have the principled view that when we make an agreement with someone, whether it is sponsors, fans or players, we honor it!
Instead of an earth embankment, we have spent a lot of money establishing a rather nice away section, with room for 1500 people. Of the 1500 seats, 1000, or just under 1/5 of the total stadium capacity, are offered for general sale. As far as I know, there are no other Super League stadiums with such a high proportion of the tickets reserved for away fans.
We have to admit that the massive criticism of this match has taken us by surprise. From the fans of the other clubs we have had visit, including FC Copenhagen, we have received praise both for the running of the matches, and in fact also specifically for NordicBet’s campaign, which many from FCK and AGF have especially made use of.
But where I really draw the line is when, from a large handful of Brøndby “fans,” we have received emails, phone calls and messages on social media threatening us that they will buy tickets in the home sections and, I quote: “ruin the match,” “get hooligans into the home stand” and other threats of that sort. I am honestly shocked by what some people can work themselves up to when they don’t get their way.
I can only emphasize that anyone who shows up at the home entrance in Brøndby clothes, or actively cheers for Brøndby from the home stands, will be ejected. It is totally unacceptable behavior that, because one did not buy a ticket in time, one goes on to threaten me and my employees with reprisals in connection with the match, regardless of what one may think about our sponsorship agreements.
But it should also be emphasized that there are also a number of Brøndby fans who have praised us for the number of tickets we nevertheless have for sale, and the dialogue we have had with them. NordicBet has also already allocated quite a large share of their tickets, and expects to be sold out well before the match, so not all Brøndby fans are opposed to NordicBet’s offer.
I would like to point out again that the criticism has actually come as a bit of a surprise to us, and that we have definitely listened to it. We will in future consider whether we will do things differently regarding our sponsorship agreements. For us, it sounded like a very advantageous offer, also for the away fans. We did not do it to upset anyone, I can guarantee that.
I hope the match can be played in good order and with sportsmanship, and that the visit from Brøndby’s supporters will be just as positive an experience for us up here as the visits from FCK and OB were. In fact, we are really looking forward to these matches, and to having teams like Brøndby come to visit, so it would greatly annoy me if a minority among the Brøndby fans were to manage to create such a bad atmosphere that we couldn’t all have a good day on 22.
With the wish of a good match to everyone.
Janus Kyhl.
