This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
On July 7, 2020, the Swedish Football Federation announced the suspension of referee Martin Strombergsson for the rest of the season due to racist remarks made towards Guinea international goalkeeper Aly Keita.
Speaking to a Swedish newspaper, Strombergsson expressed regret over his comments, stating that his career as a referee is 'effectively' over.
According to Keita, the referee told him to 'shut up and go back into his goal so bananas could be thrown at him' during a match last year.
Strombergsson's suspension, which lasts until the end of his current contract, has left his future as a referee uncertain.
While the referee's committee of the Swedish Football Federation acknowledged that Strombergsson had no racist intentions, they still considered his statement to be 'very inappropriate' and potentially offensive.
