Who is allowed in the match? : A qualitative analysis of dialogue-oriented expressions in the police's public communication about Swedish football supporters

This study investigates how dialogue-oriented communication is expressed in the Swedish Police’s public content regarding football supporters. While previous research has focused on hooliganism, security measures, and direct interactions between police and supporters, less attention has been given to public communication outside the match context (Mazerolle et al., 2013; Stott et al. 2019; Karlén & Radmann, 2023). Using a qualitative content analysis of six press releases and seven interview statements from the Police (2021-2025), the study applies Grunig and Hunt’s PR models (1984) and Kent and Taylor’s dialogue principles (2002) to identify communicative patterns. The analysis indicates that dialogue-oriented communication is limited and controlled. Police communication primarily consists of objective information, persuasive arguments, and clear responsibility allocation, while principles such as empathy, reciprocity, and inclusion of supporters’ perspective appear only sporadically. This hierarchical approach positions supporters largely as passive recipients, potentially reducing trust, hindering relationship building, and escalating conflicts. The findings highlight the gap between theoretical ideals of dialogue and current public practice, providing insights for strategies to enhance constructive engagement and conflict reduction between the Swedish Police and football supporters.