Sakari Manninen, who violated the referee’s integrity in the Swiss hockey series, has received his sentence for his miraculous brain fart.
Genève-Servette Finnish striker Sakari Manninen has received a five-game suspension and a fine of almost 8,000 euros for his bat attack on the referee in Wednesday’s away game against EV Zug.
The Finnish champion hit the linesman, who had become his and Zug’s sparring partner, from behind with a cross stick By Sven Senteler between.
Manninen, 32, has already agreed to a one-match suspension. He got away with surprisingly few suspensions for his offensive act. It was possibly influenced by Manninen’s previous clean record in terms of disciplinary actions and the fact that he immediately apologized to the linesman on the ice.
The Lions’ Olympic champion and two-time world champion is one of Genève-Servette’s key players, having collected 13+23=36 with more than a point per game in the Swiss league this season.