A football viewing event in Copenhagen turned deadly when a Swedish supporter was fatally assaulted during clashes at a World Cup fan zone by a group of African men, according to eyewitness accounts and local reporting. The victim, identified as 32-year-old Swedish fan and off-duty police officer Christian Zedig, was watching the Norway vs Ivory Coast match when the attack happened.
The violence broke out late in the match as tensions escalated between the African men and the locals. Police in Denmark have not released full details on arrests or charges related to the incident.
An eyewitness told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet that a group of around seven or eight young men arrived during the game shortly after kickoff. “It was completely clear that they had only come to cause trouble. They weren’t there to watch football,” the witness said.
The witness described a series of exchanges between the two groups after goals were scored in the match. “When Norway scored the 2-1 winner, the Swedes and Norwegians responded, but with only half the intensity of the other group,” the witness said.
According to the account, objects were thrown before physical confrontations began. “Then the young guys started throwing beer and other things at the Scandinavians and started assaulting them. Suddenly a fight broke out, when the young men ran over to the table next to them and began beating the Norwegian and Swedish fans,” the witness added.
"One of the young men – a big guy – swung a fist at the head of a man in a Swedish national team jersey, who immediately fell to the floor,” the witness said. “After that, several of the other members of the group ran over and stomped him several times on the head him while he was lying on the ground. They then quickly fled the scene”
Zedig later died from his injuries.
His sister paid tribute in a public message, writing: “My beautiful and throughly good-hearted brother. How will we make it without you with us? Who gave them the right to take you away from us. The grief is never-ending”
The violence broke out late in the match as tensions escalated between the African men and the locals. Police in Denmark have not released full details on arrests or charges related to the incident.
An eyewitness told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet that a group of around seven or eight young men arrived during the game shortly after kickoff. “It was completely clear that they had only come to cause trouble. They weren’t there to watch football,” the witness said.
The witness described a series of exchanges between the two groups after goals were scored in the match. “When Norway scored the 2-1 winner, the Swedes and Norwegians responded, but with only half the intensity of the other group,” the witness said.
According to the account, objects were thrown before physical confrontations began. “Then the young guys started throwing beer and other things at the Scandinavians and started assaulting them. Suddenly a fight broke out, when the young men ran over to the table next to them and began beating the Norwegian and Swedish fans,” the witness added.
"One of the young men – a big guy – swung a fist at the head of a man in a Swedish national team jersey, who immediately fell to the floor,” the witness said. “After that, several of the other members of the group ran over and stomped him several times on the head him while he was lying on the ground. They then quickly fled the scene”
Zedig later died from his injuries.
His sister paid tribute in a public message, writing: “My beautiful and throughly good-hearted brother. How will we make it without you with us? Who gave them the right to take you away from us. The grief is never-ending”
