Mass Brawl Erupts Between Football Fans in Lahti Before Veikkausliiga Match
A violent clash between football supporters broke out in Lahti on Saturday afternoon, leaving a restaurant damaged and dozens detained by police. The incident occurred ahead of a Veikkausliiga match between FC Lahti and HJK.
The brawl took place in front of Iloinen kulkija (The Merry Traveler), a sports bar located at Paasikivenaukio. According to Johanna Marttinen, the restaurant’s manager, the confrontation began suddenly when masked men approached the terrace from the direction of the city center. Iltalehti reports that the bar had opened an hour earlier than usual to accommodate FC Lahti fans before their planned march to the stadium at 13:30.
Marttinen described the scene as initially peaceful before escalating rapidly. “They came running from behind the building. Everything was nice and calm, and then suddenly this happened,” she told Iltalehti. She immediately contacted emergency services as the situation unfolded. While the interior of the bar remained unaffected, the exterior sustained damage, including broken windows and a shattered door pane. One terrace table was also destroyed, though Marttinen noted the damage was relatively minor.
Videos circulating on social media show dozens of individuals, many dressed in dark clothing, engaged in physical altercations. MTV Uutiset reports that police confirmed some of the brawlers were masked. The first emergency call regarding the incident was received at 12:11, shortly after the bar opened at 11:00.
Police detained dozens of people at the scene, though the exact number has not yet been confirmed. According to Iltalehti, the detainees are preliminarily suspected of assault, illegal masking, and possession of objects or substances capable of causing serious harm, including pyrotechnic flares. Authorities suspect the violence involved supporters of both FC Lahti and HJK.
The match between FC Lahti and HJK proceeded as scheduled later in the day. No further incidents were reported at the stadium.