Ola Toivonen on the lost tribute: “A little sad”

From: Malin Wahlberg

Published: November 23, 2020 kl. 08.20

Photograph: SIMON HASTEGÅRD / BILDBYRÅN

Wave Toivonen.s

Malmö expected Hammarby to pay tribute to the golden team with an honor guard before the match.

But that did not happen.

– A little boring. You have to keep the traditions, says Ola Toivonen.

When Malmö FF took gold in 2017, AIK paid tribute to the team with a so-called “Guard of Honor”. Tradition means that a team that has decided the series before it ends is greeted by opponents who form a corridor and applaud the champions as they enter the field.

But even before the game between Hammarby and Malmö, it was clear that there would be no honor guard.

– It’s an English tradition. Something you do in the Premier League. We don’t perceive it as a Swedish tradition, Hammarby CEO Henrik Kindlund told Sportbladet.

“The club made the decision”

Ola Toivonen said after the gold that he was looking forward to Hammarby’s gesture, but was not too disappointed that it didn’t materialize.

– It is what it is. A little sad, but that’s it. You have to keep the traditions, he says.

Sören Rieks is going the same way.

– If it’s a tradition, they should. But I don’t know if it is.

Abdul Khalili says it was the club that made the decision and that the players backed him.

– It was a club decision and we did it. We don’t talk much about it, it was the club that made the decision.

Published: November 23, 2020 kl. 08.20

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