The police traced the threat to an account on X, where a 28-year-old man in Värmland was identified.
During the match against Färjestad on October 24, a 28-year-old man allegedly sent a message to Jonathan Pudas on Instagram: “Son of a bitch, you should die tonight.”
The AIK star saw the message after the match and told police during questioning that it felt disturbing, not just for him but also for his family. He said he’s used to receiving this type of message, but that this one crossed a line.
– This kind of message comes too often, unfortunately. It happens far too frequently, and it’s equally awful every time. Now I feel like I’ve had enough, and I really think this needs to be highlighted, says the AIK captain and continues:
– No player wants to go through this, and I hope people realise that this behaviour is not acceptable. Enough is enough, and that’s why I’m speaking out.
Following the incident, Skellefteå AIK’s security officer, Jan Holmström, contacted the police, who launched an investigation into the unlawful threat.
Holmström told police during questioning that Pudas had made a provocative comment about a Färjestad player in a widely reported interview that evening.
The police traced the Instagram account behind the message to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and identified a 28-year-old man from Värmland.
Instagram then provided the police with the phone number linked to the account, confirming it was the same individual.
Last Friday, charges of making unlawful threats were filed at Skellefteå District Court. The suspected man admits that it is his Instagram account but denies any wrongdoing. During questioning, he claimed not to remember sending the message.
– It's bad, but I don't recall sending it, he says.
He admits he’s a hockey fan and supports Färjestad.
– That’s just how it is during the games; you get angry. And if I wrote something while I was drunk, well… but isn’t that just words, not a threat? Threats and accusations are two different things, he says in the interrogation.
Pudas is not seeking any compensation or damages. He says the police report was mainly made to underline that the death threat crossed the line.
In the match between Skellefteå AIK and Färjestad on October 24, emotions ran high, particularly when Jonathan Pudas skated over to exchange words with a player on the away bench.