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Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Sweden's Soft Hooligans push better vibes at Women's Euro 2025
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans cheer for their team ahead of the Women's Euro 2025 Group C football match on July 12. ZURICH – Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to promote good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's European Championship in the Netherlands. 'It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy,' Kjellman told AFP. 'We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans',' she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. 'In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section,' Aronsson explained. 'We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games . You were on your own ,' Kjellman said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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'There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too,' said Kjellman. 'In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group,' she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. 'We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions,' said Kjellman. 'The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches.' The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: 'Everyone should feel welcome,' Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. 'There are many families and children in the stands,' Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. 'We receive mocking comments about our name,' Kjellman said. 'But we choose not to focus on that,' her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. 'Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go,' she said. 'In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all.' The two women are optimistic about younger generations. 'Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish two-time Ballon d'Or winner Feminin Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player,' Kjellman noted. For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory at Euro 2025. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims '41 Years Since Last Time' on one side and 'Bringing the Gold Home' on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euro in 1984. They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on July 12. 'I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had,' said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. 'There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue , and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way .' Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England on July 17. Said Gerhardsson: 'It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage.' Swedish fans went on a ticket-buying frenzy on July 14, buying up all the available spots in their section for the match within an hour of going on sale. 'This news gives the whole team so much energy in the build-up to the quarter-finals,' forward Madelen Janogy said in a statement issued by the Swedish Football Association. AFP, REUTERS
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Sweden's fan revolution: How mothers and daughters built the ‘Soft Hooligans' movement for inclusive football
ZURICH, July 16 — Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to promote good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's Euros in the Netherlands. 'It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy,' Kjellman told AFP. 'We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans',' she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. 'In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section,' Aronsson explained. 'We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own,' Kjellman said. Eight years later, with the Women's Euros now underway in Switzerland, the atmosphere has changed significantly, the two women noted, sitting in front of a ski lift in an alpine landscape wearing caps with the slogans 'More Women in Football' and 'Soft Hooligans'. 'There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too,' said Kjellman. 'In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group,' she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. 'We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions,' said Kjellman. 'The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches.' Sweden's players celebrate with their supporters after winning the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Group C football match with Germany at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, on July 12, 2025. — AFP pic Political message The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: 'Everyone should feel welcome,' Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. 'There are many families and children in the stands,' Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. 'We receive mocking comments about our name,' Kjellman said. 'But we choose not to focus on that,' her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. 'Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go,' she said. 'In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all.' The two women are optimistic about younger generations. 'Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish double Ballon d'Or winner Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player,' Kjellman noted. For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory in this year's Euros. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims '41 Years Since Last Time' on one side and 'Bringing the Gold Home' on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984. They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on Saturday. 'I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had,' said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. 'There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue, and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way.' Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England. 'It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage,' said Gerhardsson. — AFP
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Soft Hooligans bring inclusive cheers to Women's Euros in Switzerland
A Swedish supporters' group called the Soft Hooligans is making waves at the Women's Euros in Switzerland, bringing their unique blend of chants, drums, and a strong message of inclusion. The group, founded in 2017 by Kajsa Aronsson and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, aims to create a lively atmosphere while advocating for better conditions in women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came after the duo attended the 2017 Women's Euros in the Netherlands. 'It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy,' Kjellman recalled. What started as a joke about being 'soft hooligans' soon turned into a movement, with a Facebook group helping spread their message. Initially, the group faced challenges in building a cheering culture. 'We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own,' Kjellman said. Fast forward to 2025, and the atmosphere has transformed, with more organised supporter groups across teams. The Soft Hooligans stand out for their core values—inclusivity and LGBTQ-friendliness. 'Everyone should feel welcome,' Kjellman emphasised. Their presence in the stands, often filled with families and children, reflects this ethos. However, they still face criticism. 'We receive mocking comments about our name,' Kjellman admitted, though they choose to focus on their mission instead. Beyond cheering, the group highlights the political struggles in women's football. 'Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go,' Kjellman noted. They remain hopeful for the future, especially with younger generations embracing female football stars like Aitana Bonmati. Currently, Sweden is riding high in the tournament, securing a quarter-final spot after a dominant 4-1 win over Germany. Their massive banner in the stands reads '41 Years Since Last Time' and 'Bringing the Gold Home,' referencing Sweden's 1984 triumph. Coach Peter Gerhardsson praised the fans, saying, 'I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had.' Sweden will face reigning champions England in Zurich, with the Soft Hooligans ready to bring their signature energy. 'It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage,' Gerhardsson added. - AFP
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sweden's Soft Hooligans push better vibes at Women's Euros
Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to promote good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's Euros in the Netherlands. "It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy," Kjellman told AFP. "We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans'," she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. "In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section," Aronsson explained. "We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own," Kjellman said. Eight years later, with the Women's Euros now underway in Switzerland, the atmosphere has changed significantly, the two women noted, sitting in front of a ski lift in an alpine landscape wearing caps with the slogans "More Women in Football" and "Soft Hooligans". "There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too," said Kjellman. "In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group," she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. "We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions," said Kjellman. "The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches." - Political message - The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: "Everyone should feel welcome," Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. "There are many families and children in the stands," Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. "We receive mocking comments about our name," Kjellman said. "But we choose not to focus on that," her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. "Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go," she said. "In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all." The two women are optimistic about younger generations. "Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish double Ballon d'Or winner Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player," Kjellman noted. For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory in this year's Euros. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims "41 Years Since Last Time" on one side and "Bringing the Gold Home" on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984. They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on Saturday. "I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had," said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. "There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue, and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way." Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England. "It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage," said Gerhardsson.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sweden's Soft Hooligans push better vibes at Women's Euros
Swedish fans support their team during Saturday's 4-1 win over Germany at Women's Euro 2025 (SEBASTIEN BOZON) Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to promote good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's Euros in the Netherlands. Advertisement "It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy," Kjellman told AFP. "We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans'," she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. "In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section," Aronsson explained. "We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own," Kjellman said. Advertisement Eight years later, with the Women's Euros now underway in Switzerland, the atmosphere has changed significantly, the two women noted, sitting in front of a ski lift in an alpine landscape wearing caps with the slogans "More Women in Football" and "Soft Hooligans". "There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too," said Kjellman. "In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group," she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. Advertisement "We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions," said Kjellman. "The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches." - Political message - The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: "Everyone should feel welcome," Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. "There are many families and children in the stands," Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. Advertisement "We receive mocking comments about our name," Kjellman said. "But we choose not to focus on that," her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. "Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go," she said. "In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all." The two women are optimistic about younger generations. "Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish double Ballon d'Or winner Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player," Kjellman noted. Advertisement For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory in this year's Euros. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims "41 Years Since Last Time" on one side and "Bringing the Gold Home" on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984. They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on Saturday. "I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had," said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. Advertisement "There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue, and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way." Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England. "It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage," said Gerhardsson. str/ef/jll/po/mw
