The Assyrian Democratic Organization
Assyriska, who have climbed from the lowest Swedish divisions, thought their premier league dreams had been crushed on Sunday when they lost their promotion playoff against Orgryte in the dying minutes of the second.
But a football association decision to strip cash-strapped Orebro of its premier league licence is likely to give Assyriska their place, although a spokesman said Orebro still have three weeks to appeal.
Assyriska was founded in 1974 by mainly Christian immigrants from the ancient region of Assyria which spans parts of Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
“It seems to be a little bit uncertain, but if it is the case that we get this place then we’re really glad,” Assyriska chairman Zeki Bisso was quoted as saying on soccer website fotboldirekt.com.
“It would have been good to go up directly though.”
The club says it has support in around 80 countries, wherever Assyrian immigrants have ended up living.
Assyriska finished third in the first division and went to a playoff with Orgryte, third from bottom in the premier league.
They won the first leg 2-1 at home, but Orgryte won 1-0 in the return leg on Sunday with a goal in stoppage time, making them the victors on the away goals rule with the result 2-2 on aggregate.
