Swedish football is facing an unprecedented crisis in its officiating ranks. Fotbollskanalen can reveal that the Swedish Football Association’s (SvFF) referee committee has formally recommended the removal of Martin Ingvarsson, the coach responsible for Sweden’s elite Allsvenskan referees, following a damning internal report that paints a picture of systemic dysfunction, intimidation, and a breakdown of trust at the highest levels of the domestic game.
The Internal Report
A confidential document dated November 16, 2025, obtained by Fotbollskanalen, lays out the committee’s case in stark terms. The report, addressed to the SvFF board of directors, alleges that Ingvarsson’s leadership style has created an environment of fear and mistrust among Sweden’s top referees, with accusations ranging from undermining authority and exerting undue influence to manipulation of information and arbitrary decision-making.
The committee’s unanimous conclusion is emphatic: Ingvarsson cannot continue in his role without posing significant risks to both the working environment and the operational effectiveness of Sweden’s referee programme. The findings are based on an extensive investigation launched in early 2025, following months of complaints and observations regarding his conduct.
Systemic Allegations
The report identifies multiple problem areas, each detailed with specific examples. At its core is the allegation that Ingvarsson systematically employed his own methods to reduce transparency and hinder oversight of his own operations. The committee states that he attempted to influence individual referee observers’ assessments and ratings — a direct violation of UEFA Referee Convention protocols that govern how match officials are evaluated.
Perhaps most troubling are the accusations of a hostile working environment. The report describes Ingvarsson’s leadership approach using the Swedish term “maffiafasoner” — mafia-like tactics — that have allegedly discouraged referees and colleagues from expressing opinions or raising concerns. The committee documented repeated attempts to pressure individuals in dependent positions and instances of withholding or manipulating information for personal or strategic advantage.
The document further reveals that this behaviour pattern persisted even after formal feedback was provided, with the situation reportedly worsening rather than improving throughout 2025. The committee notes that Ingvarsson consistently refused to participate in further dialogue after the initial confrontation, breaking off all forms of cooperation and communication.
Risk and Consequences
The committee’s risk analysis is sobering. Among the identified consequences of allowing Ingvarsson to remain in post are: diminished efficiency and quality in referee assessments, damaged credibility for the coach organisation if non-UEFA criteria are perceived to influence referee opportunities, severe reputational risk to SvFF itself, deteriorating working conditions leading to increased sick leave and staff turnover, and an organisational culture characterised by fear and silence that stifles innovation and open dialogue.
The report also highlights the absence of strategic planning, noting that coordination between district, regional, and elite levels is essential for the success of SvFF’s broader strategic objectives — coordination that the committee believes is impossible under the current leadership structure.
Recommended Actions
The committee’s recommended course of action leaves no room for ambiguity: immediate relief from current duties and the initiation of a reorganisation around elite referee operations. The recommendation was forwarded to the SvFF board along with the complete documentation of findings.
Not long after the committee sent its second alarming letter to SvFF headquarters in November 2025, the federation’s board made the decision to remove committee chairman Mattias Johansson. However, the underlying situation — Ingvarsson’s continued role as coach for Allsvenskan referees — remains unresolved, leaving Swedish football in a state of limbo as the new season approaches.
Reaction from Former Top Referee
Former elite referee Jonas Eriksson, one of Sweden’s most respected officials, offered his perspective on the crisis. In comments to Fotbollskanalen, Eriksson described the situation as “unfortunate,” adding that “referee Sweden is not particularly large in terms of the number of practitioners, so it is clear that it is unfortunate that you do not land and agree.”
“Neither the referee committee, the Swedish Football Association, nor the Allsvenskan referees are winners here,” Eriksson said. “You sit and talk about it, you want me to talk about it, and it becomes other eyes and another discussion than the actual football itself — the game out on the pitch.”
Eriksson acknowledged that despite 31 years as a referee, he has chosen not to engage operationally with SvFF, and that in this case the conflict appears to have progressed very far. The situation raises fundamental questions about governance, accountability, and the culture of Swedish football’s officiating elite — questions that the federation board has yet to adequately address.
Source: Fotbollskanalen investigative report. This article was originally written for the Football News Autopilot platform.
