A match penalty was awarded in HV71-Färjestad.
Then Niklas Wikegård understood nothing.
– Why do you do that?, says the expert with enormous disappointment.
It was in the second period of the meeting in Jönköping between HV71 and Färjestad that the judges made a decision that would stir up a lot of emotions among TV4’s experts. It all started with a tripping expulsion on FBK’s Patrik Lundh, but Victor Ejdsell continued to play, and fired a shot at HV goalkeeper Joni Ortio.
Big disappointment
Tommi Tikka didn’t like that, who chose to put his foot down against Ejdsell. Both ended up in a brawl, but no punches were thrown. But after holding each other for a long time, the judges chose to break and go in between. Then the referees on the ice chose to give both players a match penalty for fighting plus 20 minutes of game misconduct.
Victor Ejdsell, one of Färjestad’s main offensive weapons, with three points in the opening three games, was visibly upset and shouted at the referees for a long time. And there were upset faces in TV4’s studio as well, where experts Niklas Wikegård and Almen were furious at the verdict.
– I think it’s no, no, no, no, says Bibic during the broadcast.
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Wikegård’s criticism
Niklas Wikegård was in agreement, to say the least, and he also had difficulty finding backing for the decision in the rule book.
– Why? Yes, but why do the judges make such a decision? It’s not even a fight. Me and Björn (Oldeen, presenter TV4 reds.anm) sit here and shake our heads and just think: Well, please, dear, it’s a hug party. Calling it a fight… Why do you do that?, he says.
Almen Bibic said that it may have been pure frustration for the judges that the “hugging party” went on for so long, and that it was difficult for the judges to step in and interrupt the two heavyweights.
– I don’t know if it’s an annoyance, that you stand there for quite a long time and maybe ask the players to stop but they continue? It could be, otherwise I don’t really have a good explanation for it, he says.
The league’s referee base, Tomas Thorsbrink, has said after the match that there is backing for the decision according to the rulebook.
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