It was a sad day for Swedish football on Sunday. A supporter of Swedish top-flight club Djurgarden, the club of Mzansi’s Mark Mayambela, has died from head injuries.
The fan sustained the injuries in an assault about 30 minutes before Djurgarden’s game at Helsingborgs on the opening weekend of the Swedish season.
When news of the man's death spread, Djurgarden fans invaded the pitch.
Referee, Martin Hansson, took the players – amongst them Mark Mayambela, who had started the game for Djungarden – back to the dressing room in the 42nd minute and the match, which was level at 1-1, was abandoned at half-time.
"Everything is at an acute stage. A person has died during the match and we are in the midst of a criminal investigation," a police spokesperson told Swedish media.
A statement on the Djurgarden website reads: "Djurgarden family is mourning. We cannot describe in words what we are feeling right now.
“Thousands of people from across Sweden have been in touch through social media, phone calls and emails and even visited the Olympic Stadium to express their grief and honor to the Djungarden supporter who was beaten to death in Helsingborg.
"Our deepest sympathy and our thoughts are with the deceased's family and loved ones."
