Large-scale football fan brawl erupts in Lahti

A large-scale brawl between football ultras broke out in front of the Iloinen Kulkija restaurant in Lahti on Saturday, according to a report by Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Johanna Marttinen, the restaurant manager with 30 years of experience in the industry, described the incident as the most terrifying of her career. She witnessed the fight unfold before her eyes and immediately called emergency services after spotting smoke bombs and a crowd of people in dark clothing approaching.

Police confirmed the brawl was exceptionally large, involving 48 arrests. Authorities had no prior information about the gathering, as Helsinki-based fans arrived earlier than usual, around noon, though the match started at 3 p.m.

Häme Police’s Superintendant Tero Veijonmaa, who oversees football match security, noted that tensions between FC Lahti and HJK supporters have persisted for years. While the cause remains unclear, historical rivalries have contributed to the conflict.

No serious injuries were reported, though the restaurant sustained minor damage, including broken windows and overturned tables. Marttinen expressed relief that the situation did not escalate further.

Police maintain open communication with ultras through the National Football Information Point (NFIP), a European network for sharing intelligence on football-related risks.