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Swedish pensioners replace children

Chuck Penfold (Reuters)September 20, 2016

The Stockholm football club AIK did something a little different for their game against Gefle on the weekend. The children that usually walk out with the players at the start of a match were replaced by pensioners.

https://p.dw.com/p/1K5N9
Schweden Fußball AIK Stockholm - Gefle Rentner als Maskottchen
Image: Imago/Bildbyran/A. Sandström

The players' walk out of the tunnel took a little longer than usual oat the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Sunday, as instead of child mascots, they were accompanied by some of the club's oldest supporters.

Former UEFA President Lennart Johansson, 86, was the youngest of the 11 senior citizens to enter the ground to an ovation from the fans.

"It's a lovely gesture," said 96-year-old Ake Jigstedt, the oldest of the pensioner mascots. "I've been a member since 1936 and I think this is something extra special."

In the match itself, AIK defeated Gefle 1-0 on a late strike from Finnish forward Eero Markkanen.