Aston Villa defender Victor Lindelof has publicly addressed and apologised for his reaction to Sweden supporters, which sparked significant backlash following a costly World Cup qualifying defeat.
The Incident That Sparked the Fury
The controversy unfolded last month after Sweden's disappointing 1-0 loss to Kosovo in a crucial World Cup qualifier. The match, played at the Ullevi Stadium, saw the home side's performance met with loud boos from disappointed fans. Victor Lindelof, the 31-year-old Aston Villa centre-back and a key figure for the national team, responded to the jeers with a sarcastic thumbs-up gesture directed at the crowd.
This visible reaction was compounded by remarks the player made during post-match interviews, further fuelling the anger of the Swedish fanbase. The defeat had severe consequences, leading directly to the dismissal of manager Jon Dahl Tomasson in October and leaving Sweden languishing at the bottom of their World Cup qualifying group.
Lindelof's Emotional Apology
Now, a month after the event, Lindelof has reflected on his actions. He admitted that his response was born from the heat of the moment and high emotions.
"I had a lot of emotions in my body, I was irritated and angry about many different things," Lindelof explained. "I said what I said in the moment and it was perhaps not my absolute best statement. If they (the supporters) got angry, I apologise for that. But football is about emotions, and I said what I said."
Moving Forward with the Fans
Despite the friction, Lindelof expressed understanding towards the supporters' right to voice their disappointment. He framed their passion as a positive force, albeit one that manifested negatively on that particular evening.
"Everyone has the right to express themselves exactly as they want," he stated. "If they want to do that, they can do that. It was their way of showing that they were disappointed. They want us to perform and win."
He concluded by emphasising the shared ambition between the players and the fans, noting, "We all – players and fans – have high demands and that's how it should be in the national team. They also want to go to the World Cup and experience Sweden in a major championship again. It just means that they are invested in us and it's positive that they care about us."
