The Finnish Ice Hockey League condemns the racist behavior against Ilves’ players in recent days.
– Racist activity is by no means acceptable, says the CEO of the Finnish Championship Riku Kallioniemi.
Kallioniemi says that if the perpetrators of such acts can be identified, the teams will take action.
Ilves striker after the Lukko-Ilves match played in Rauma on Tuesday Joonas Oden received racist messages on social media.
CEO Riku Kallioniemi says that the league has been reported on what has happened.
– And now that this has been in the world, of course it is visible to everyone, Kallioniemi says.
The game was characterized by rough play and many physical challenges on the wet field, but Oden showed great heart and had a good game.
After the match of the league disciplinary delegation dealt with the tackle and did not consider the match penalty or ban to be appropriate. The delegation saw Oden’s movement as a pursuit of the puck, not a tackle or a search for contact.
Ilves posted an anti-racism statement on his Facebook account on Wednesday:
– This does not only apply to Finland and hockey. Yes, this is reflected in the world in general. We must strongly condemn all discrimination and racism, says Ilves’ CEO Risto Jalo.
Rauman Lukko also announced that he condemned the behavior, which the club described as outrageous and racist.
– There is no justification for inferior and deeply offensive comments against a person or group of people, Lukko wrote on his Instagram account.
Consideration for some writing
Intervening in racist behavior is not quite simple. In social media, many work behind a nickname. Riku Kallioniemi, CEO of the Finnish Championship League, hopes that everyone will carefully consider what they write on social media.
– Some are, of course, a challenging place. Then, if this happens in the hall, law enforcement will be able to intervene in them.
On Friday in Tappara and Ilves in a local match In Tampere, a racist shout was heard from Ilves’ player or players. Information about the shout was also passed on to Tappara’s management.
– Such a shout is very reprehensible and does not belong to anything, says Tappara’s development director Aki Hautamäki.
Two calls to the shouter
After the match, Hautamäki announced on Twitter that he is offering a fast-paced fan product or VIP package to reveal the identity of the shouter. Hautamäki says that based on the clues of eyewitnesses, Tappara has found an shouter.
– I’ve talked to that person on the phone a couple of times. The process is still underway, what are the follow-up measures for him and what can we do, Hautamäki says.
According to Hautamäki, the matter is taken very seriously in Tappara.
– There is no place for racism in the auditorium, someme or anywhere else and hockey belongs to everyone, Hautamäki says.