The SLO role was introduced in Swedish football in 2012. By 2015, the Swedish SLO role was recognized as Best Practice in Europe. Today, 13 years after its introduction, the role remains crucial in security efforts at Allsvenskan and Superettan stadiums. From 2027 onwards, the SLO role will become even more professional.
“We are working under the project name SLO 2.0 and have set 2027 as a relaunch. As a first step in this development, we have, starting this year, made SLO training mandatory in the Special Competition Regulations (STB),” says Johan Schollin, SLO Manager at Swedish Professional Football Leagues.
SLO stands for Supporter Liaison Officer. The role was initially introduced as a key support tool in the project Stand Up for Football. The SLO is often someone from within the supporter ranks who has a good understanding of their own club and its supporters and serves as the key point of contact when communication flows both ways between supporters, clubs, and police before, during, and after matches. The SLO acts as the central link ensuring that the perspectives of all parties are communicated effectively.
In this first development phase, Swedish Professional Football Leagues has established a working group consisting of SLOs to look at what SLO training should look like, what it should include, and similar aspects. In parallel, the Liaison II project, an EU initiative, is ongoing and focuses, among other things, on cooperation between SLOs and the police, which is also an important part of SLO 2.0.
“The SLO role is easy to take for granted, but it is incredibly important for Swedish football and for maintaining order at the stadiums. For us, it’s crucial to continuously develop and professionalize the role, and we believe the best way to do that is together with our SLOs. Through dialogue, presence, and trust, a safer, more inclusive, and vibrant supporter culture is created,” says Johan Schollin.
More details about SLO 2.0 will be presented over time.
Background and Current Status
By 2025, the SLO role is an established part of Swedish elite football. All 16 clubs in Allsvenskan and ten clubs in Superettan currently have at least one SLO working to strengthen and develop dialogue between all stakeholders in football. The responsibilities remain the same as when the role was introduced in 2012, although in some cases it has been expanded to also include more stadium service duties.
The two main tasks for an SLO are coordination and dialogue, as well as continuous communication with supporters. In addition, there are several other tasks an SLO may work with. In 2012, the purpose was described as “to strengthen and develop Swedish football” with the following job description:
“Through dialogue, collaboration, and communication, you as an SLO are the dynamic link for your club’s supporters. You have a good understanding of the different needs and identity preservation within your club and work proactively through service and supporter care.”
Already by 2015, just three years after its introduction, the SLO role was described as a key factor in the downward trend of violence at Swedish stadiums, and that same year UEFA named the Swedish SLOs as Best Practice.
In 2016, Swedish Professional Football Leagues. published a communication stating that SLO work requires good knowledge of both supporter culture and police work. It is essential to be in the right place at the right time and to have a good sense of the current situation. With some finesse, even the most difficult situation can be prevented from escalating.
In 2018, Swedish SLOs participated in the Erasmus+ project LIAISE together with SLOs from seven other countries.
In recent years, annual training sessions have been held for SLOs alongside study visits to foreign clubs, both to learn and to educate others.
