MALMO security chiefs have expressed fears over fan trouble at their Europa League opener against Rangers.
They have dubbed the game a ‘high-risk’ fixture – and are concerned visiting fans could link-up with, or even be infiltrated by, Swedish rivals.
Gers are due to take up around 2,000 of the Eleda Stadion for the 5.15pm kick-off.
But officials at Malmo, where ex-Ger Filip Helander is a club favourite and ex-Celtic winger Sead Haksabanovic is in the first-team, are worried about the clash.
They fear Helsingborg fans may pile in amongst the crowd and “present themselves in a negative way”.
Malmo head of security Peter Narbe has claimed Helsingborgs have links to Rangers and could attend the game leading to a security headache.
Speaking to Sydsvenskan, the Swedish safety chief said: “We know there’s a ‘friendship’ there. We are aware of that.
“It is likely that there will be HIF supporters who bought tickets in the home section. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re behaving badly; it’s important to point out.”
However he added: “There may be a risk that they want to present themselves in a negative way.”
Malmo’s main football rivals are IFK Gothenburg but neighbours Helsingborgs are also old foes in the Skanederby – in the Scania region of Sweden.
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Trouble flared between the two sets of supporters before a derby two years ago, leading to ugly scenes of running battles on the Helsingborg streets.
Malmo have already stoked up the Europa clash by poking fun at their two previous meetings with the Gers saying ‘we’ve missed you’.
Their social media video revisited their previous two encounters this century – in 2011-12 before Rangers were plunged into the fourth tier as a result of their financial woes.
They also met three seasons ago when Antonio Colak put Steven Gerrard’s side to the sword – the manager left two months later, but under Giovanni van Bronckhorst Rangers reached the Europa League Final.
Jon Dahl Tomasson also tried to rile up Rangers by claiming Gers needed the money at the time.
Swedes v Scots
RANGERS must make history on Thursday night if they are to get their Europa League group campaign off to the perfect start.
by Roger Hannah
Gers have NEVER beaten the Swedes in four previous meetings – and have suffered three damaging defeats to them.Here, SunSport looks back on those games as Philippe Clement prepares to take his squad to Scandinavia for the opener on Thursday evening.
Rangers 0 Malmo 1
Champions League qualifier – July 26, 2011
ALLY McCOIST’S champions suffered a shock home defeat as Daniel Larsson hit the only goal in the first-half at Ibrox.
New boss McCoist, who had stepped up to succeed Walter Smith, stuck with the stars who had won the title at Rugby Park just two months earlier.
But the loss of captain David Weir to injury shortly after Larsson’s goal was another blow and Gers couldn’t equalise.
Malmo 1 Rangers 1
Champions League qualifier – August 3, 2011
NINE-MAN Gers were dumped out of the Champions League by Malmo in a bad-tempered encounter in Sweden.
Nikica Jelavic’s goal had levelled the tie in the 23rd minute but red cards for Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra hit McCoist’s side.
The Swedes were reduced to ten men when Ferreira Ricardinho saw red but an 80th minute goal from Jiloan Hamad put the tie out of reach.
Malmo 2 Rangers 1
Champions League qualifier – August 3, 2021
EXACTLY a decade after Gers’ elimination in Sweden, they returned to Malmo and suffered another damaging result.
Soren Rieks and Veljko Birmancevic scored two goals in two minutes after the break as Steven Gerrard’s side wobbled.
Steven Davis scored in injury-time to give Gers hope for the second leg at Ibrox – but more woe awaited them just days later.
Rangers 1 Malmo 2
Champions League qualifier – August 10, 2021
ALFREDO MORELOS cancelled out Malmo’s first-leg after just 18 minutes and Gers fans believed they were on the way to victory.
That feeling was fuelled when Malmo’s Bonke Innocent was sent-off in first-half stoppage time with the tie balanced on a knife-edge.
But Gers collapsed in the second half and Croatian striker Antonio Colak – who would later sign for Gers – scored twice inside four minutes to send the Swedes through 4-2 on aggregate.
He famously said, with a wry smirk: “Is the pressure on us or them?
“Don’t you think that they need the Champions League’s money here? I think so.
“I think they need that. I think that’s a good answer, isn’t it?”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
