PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Roger Rönnberg was sent off in the meeting with Linköping.
After the match, the Frölunda coach made harsh criticism – which the referees are now putting down.
– I would almost say the exact opposite, says head referee Andreas Harnebring to Expressen.
It was seven minutes and 43 seconds into the second period that Roger Rönnberg was first sent off for two minutes, and then dismissed from the bench for the rest of the game. Something that surprised many spectators in place and on the TV sofas.
Rönnberg’s anger
On the television images, it was not particularly clear what Rönnberg was expelled for. Even the Frölunda coach himself was confused after the match about why he received a match penalty.
– I don’t know exactly what these two were looking for, but they are probably damn happy tonight and can have a beer and feel that it was fun to put Roger Rönnberg there. Because that’s exactly how it feels. It’s a personal jump, it’s nothing else, says Rönnberg to Göteborgs-Posten on Tuesday evening.
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But head judge Andreas Harnebring have a clear picture of what happened and what was behind the expulsion.
– In an earlier situation, Roger had put his pad against the eyes and pointed towards their attack zone, and so in a way insinuated that I am blind. It is behavior that I cannot accept, because it is not respectful. Then I chose to take two minutes on Roger and we will then get ready to start the match with two minutes of power play for Linköping. I’m preparing for us to drop the puck. Then Roger continues to argue with Daniel Erikssonthe other head judge, and does not accept our decision, Harnebring tells Expressen.
The judge’s response
On the television images, it looks like Rönnberg is trying to convey that he cannot hear the judges, and that this is why he is being sent off.
– I have also seen the pictures on TV4 Play, and then we are actually in the final phase of this whole process. Roger had obviously not been shown out of the booth because he doesn’t say he hears what we say. It’s more about him continuing to discuss, even though we said enough is enough, and he plays us out in front of the whole arena. We have access to video material that strengthens that image, says Harnebring.
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The Swedish referees have been described as “easily offended” by many in various sports circles, and on social media it was common during the Tuesday evening after Rönnberg’s match penalty. Harnebring does not agree with that.
– I would almost say the exact opposite. Rather, we have swallowed everything we have had to receive over the years, and accepted both one and the other. We’ve been way too mean. It is enough to watch big matches in the Champions League in football or whatever, and we can see that the coaches are a little bit exposed in the stands from time to time. It is not common in the SHL, he says to the evening newspaper.
READ MORE: Roger Rönnberg’s first words after the shock information about Frölunda – now admits: “Can say this…”
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