A football supporter was admitted to hospital on Sunday after a stadium floor collapses in Norway during an Eliteserien league fixture. The accident occurred inside Romssa Arena in Tromsø, sending several visiting Bodø/Glimt supporters falling through a terrace opening to the ground below.
The collapse took place around the 40th minute of a regional derby played under torrential Arctic rain. Eyewitnesses reported that a wooden decking section in the temporary away terrace split while visiting fans were jumping and singing club chants.
Play was immediately halted when Bodø/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin spotted the commotion behind his goal and urgently alerted match officials. Paramedics rushed to the affected sector to provide emergency care while stadium safety wardens cordoned off the fractured platform.
Spectators Plunge Several Metres to Ground
Norwegian police confirmed that up to five supporters were caught in the sudden structural failure. Four individuals received on-site medical treatment from emergency personnel, with one supporter requiring transport to a nearby hospital for diagnostic scans and overnight monitoring.
Family members identified the hospitalised fan as Sigurd Stoever. His brother, Magnus, who was attending the match alongside him, recounted how the floor gave way without warning, resulting in a fall of three to four metres.
Magnus confirmed that he landed on top of his brother during the drop, leaving Sigurd with fractures to his ribs and substantial bruising. Club executives from Tromsø visited the hospital following the match to check on the injured supporter's condition and offer an official apology.
Match Resumes Following Safety Inspection
Following the incident, match officials and venue security coordinated with the Norwegian Football Federation to assess whether play could safely proceed. Police cleared the damaged terrace and relocated the remaining Bodø/Glimt supporters to alternative seating bays in the main grandstand.
Once the damaged area was secured and certified inaccessible, the match restarted after a lengthy stoppage. Bodø/Glimt went on to secure a 2-0 victory courtesy of a second-half brace from forward Ola Brynhildsen, preserving their push for the domestic championship.
Local authorities emphasized that ensuring spectator safety remains the absolute priority across all sporting grounds. Tromsø officials stated that safety engineers will inspect the entire grandstand structure before any future events are hosted at the venue.
Police Open Structural Safety Inquiry
Norwegian police have initiated a formal inquiry to examine the underlying cause of the terrace failure. Investigators will inspect construction permits, maintenance logs, and weather exposure data to determine why the flooring gave way under normal crowd movement.
Stadium engineering specialists noted that prolonged freezing cycles and heavy rain can weaken composite timber platforms if drainage or support joists degrade over time. The incident has prompted calls from fan organisations for comprehensive safety audits of visiting supporter sections across the Eliteserien.
The Norwegian Football Federation announced that it will review the police findings once the technical examination is complete. The governing body confirmed that mandatory structural certifications will be reviewed across all top-flight venues before the season concludes in December.
