According to Teemu Japisson, secretary general of SUEK, even five years ago the cases of harassment in sports that have come to light would not necessarily have been raised.
In less than a day, two cases of harassment became public in the Veikkausliiga of football.
FC Inter released their head coach on Monday Jarkko Wissin of their duties. According to the club’s press release, Wiss did not represent the club’s values. MTV Sports information according to Wiss had harassed a female employee of the club at the end of the season. Inter did not confirm the information to Urheilu citing employee privacy.
On Tuesday, the Vaasa Palloseura announced that the sports director had issued a warning To Janne Lindberg about sexually tinged messages and comments to the club’s female employees. According to the release, the warning has already been issued in the spring of 2023.
Secretary General of the Finnish Center for Sports Ethics Teemu Japisson considers the incidents unfortunate. On the other hand, he emphasizes that highlighting cases of harassment is also a good thing for society. No more sweeping them under the rug.
– My assessment is that five or ten years ago such things would not have been brought up. The clubs would not necessarily have worked. I think it’s really good that the clubs have intervened in these cases and also communicated the issues, says Japisson to Urheilu.
– The most important thing is that people are encouraged to bring up these cases. When they are brought up, they are dealt with and indeed there are sanctions for those who have misbehaved. That’s one way to change the culture.
VPS announced Lindberg’s warning only now, although it was already given in the spring. Chairman of the board of VPS Timo Harry admitted in an interview with that the disclosure of other similar cases affected the communication about the matter now.
– In principle, matters related to the employment relationship cannot be discussed publicly by the employer. However, now that similar cases have come to light, it was agreed and permission was also obtained from him himself that such a release can be made, Harri said.
Preparation in clubs is important
In 2020, SUEK conducted a study on harassment in Finnish competitive sports. According to the study, four species had an increasing effect on the prevalence of sexual harassment. The sports were ice hockey, football, baseball and floorball.
– Unequivocally, we cannot say in the study what causes it. Probably because of the kind of culture that has shaped the sports. It has exposed me to such ways of operating, says Japisson.
In the past year alone, incidents of harassment have come to light in each of the four sports. In February, the manager of Hämeenlinna Volleyball Club Ville Kalliomäki was punished by the sports association for inappropriate behavior and finally gave up his duties. Joensuu Mailan in baseball Joni Rytkönen the suspected cases of harassment proceeded to the handling of the Sports Ethics Disciplinary Committee administered by the Olympic Committee in September.
Cases of rape have come to light in ice hockey. of JYP Severi Lahtinen was sentenced to two years’ unconditional imprisonment for rape. Tappara player Top Rönni in turn is accused of rape. The case will be heard by the Helsinki District Court in March.
– It is really important that the mechanisms for intervention in the clubs are in order, and they are not wasted on the zero-tolerance speech that something like this cannot happen here. Every organization needs to be prepared for how to deal with it if something like this happens, says Japisson.
Are the Finnish sports organizations sufficiently prepared?
– Finnish sports organizations are certainly much better than five or ten years ago. But there is room for improvement, Japisson concludes.