The friends’ kick-about was interrupted suddenly at around 9pm on Monday as the bleeding 18-year-old fled for his life from the man who was brandishing a knife. While he evaded further attack, the teenager later died of his injuries.

The tragedy occurred at 9pm on Monday evening in Hässelby gård in western Stockholm. Aside from the 18-year-old, two other teenagers sustained knife wounds in the attack.

There were several witnesses to the drama and several recognised the attacker and knew where he lived.

The man was arrested soon after in his apartment, on suspicion of murder. He had not been interviewed by Tuesday morning as he was inebriated at the time of his arrest, according to the police.

The background to the sudden attack is as yet unknown.

“It is probably something which has gone awry in connection with the alcohol or something similar,” said Marie-Louise Nilsson at Stockholm police to the TT news agency.

The police have not connected the incident to any criminal operations. Neither the attacker nor the football-playing friends are previously known to the police.