As soon as the first whistle blew in Stabæk’s home game against Viking, the hardcore of their support began filtering out of the stand. Tucked away in another section, the visitors’ fans remained in their places but observed a vow of silence. Play continued in an outwardly unremarkable Norwegian top-flight game midway through July, fogged slightly by smoke from flares being let off outside.
The last of Stabæk’s hardcore drifted out to reveal a banner, hung along the back of the terrace, that displayed their frustration in words. “VI VAR HER” (“We were here”), it read, with the middle word painted red for emphasis.
