Finnish football fan brawl in Lahti

In early July 2026, a violent clash erupted in the centre of Lahti as supporters of FC Lahti and HJK gathered before their match. Police reported that around 30 fans, many wearing masks, hurled chairs, set off pyrotechnic flares and shattered a pub window. The incident resulted in roughly 30 arrests on charges including assault, illegal masking and possession of pyrotechnic devices, with no serious injuries reported.

Two weeks later, following the Finnish Cup match between the same teams at the Toolpoint Areena, a larger confrontation involving about 48 individuals broke out outside the venue, again featuring masked fans, thrown objects and pyrotechnics. The police recorded six crime reports and arrested the participants, who included a few foreign nationals. An internal police review highlighted shortcomings in security deployment at the popular fan gathering spot, the "Iloinen Kulkija" bar. Both clubs condemned the violence and pledged cooperation with investigators, reaffirming a zero‑tolerance stance toward fan aggression.