Swedish soldiers held 'fight club' in Afghanistan
Swedish military police are investigating a suspected illegal boxing match arranged by a group of Swedish soldiers at the Mazar-i-Sharif base in Afghanistan which reportedly left one soldier in need of medical treatment.
”This wasn't something that the unit organized. But I haven't received any information that anyone required medical treatment,” said Colonel Rickard Johansson to daily Expressen, confirming the investigation by the military police.
The fight, rumoured to have taken place at the end of last year, lacked both rules and a permit and was reminiscent of the Hollywood movie ”Fight Club” staring Brad Pitt and Ed Norton, according to the paper.
Organizing a boxing match without a permit is prohibited by Swedish law, and the soldiers reportedly never applied for a permit.
Instead, the soldiers inquired about arranging the fight with camp doctors, who were not happy about the idea.
While a written notice banning the event was posted on a bulletin board, some form of boxing match did take place, prompting an investigation by military police.
”As far as I can understand it is being discussed whether this was a boxing match or not. It is a legal distinction,” Johansson told the paper.
The soldiers could have been fined or even jailed had they been found guilty, but according to Expressen, the prosecutor chose to drop the preliminary investigation.
The rules for organized fighting competitions in Sweden are strict and they apply to all martial arts and boxing events.
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”This wasn't something that the unit organized. But I haven't received any information that anyone required medical treatment,” said Colonel Rickard Johansson to daily Expressen, confirming the investigation by the military police.
The fight, rumoured to have taken place at the end of last year, lacked both rules and a permit and was reminiscent of the Hollywood movie ”Fight Club” staring Brad Pitt and Ed Norton, according to the paper.
Organizing a boxing match without a permit is prohibited by Swedish law, and the soldiers reportedly never applied for a permit.
Instead, the soldiers inquired about arranging the fight with camp doctors, who were not happy about the idea.
While a written notice banning the event was posted on a bulletin board, some form of boxing match did take place, prompting an investigation by military police.
”As far as I can understand it is being discussed whether this was a boxing match or not. It is a legal distinction,” Johansson told the paper.
The soldiers could have been fined or even jailed had they been found guilty, but according to Expressen, the prosecutor chose to drop the preliminary investigation.
The rules for organized fighting competitions in Sweden are strict and they apply to all martial arts and boxing events.
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