The star libero Lauri Kerminen, who is considering the continuation of his career in Russia, was excluded from the national team – ice hockey player Tuomas Määtä is also threatened with the shelf

The long-time star libero of the Finnish national volleyball team Lauri Kerminen has been suspended from national team activities for the time being. The gates of the national team were closed for 29-year-old Kermis, because he may continue his club team career in Russia.

Kerminen has played in Russia since 2015. This spring, he won the Russian championship with Dynamo Moscow and received criticism when he did not leave the club after Russia invaded Ukraine.

President of the Volleyball Association Lauri Innan according to the decision to leave Kerminen from the national team before the important EC qualifiers in August was the only possible solution.

– The head coach Joel Banks approached us and asked about the union’s policy. The national team must focus on the important EC qualification. The leadership of the union was asked for help and we made a decision. Now the team doesn’t have to worry too much about this kind of thing

– We have prepared this issue together with Lauri. He is a top player, but there is no other way to act now.

Finland will face Latvia and Austria in the EC qualifiers starting on August 6, both at home and away. Urheilu could not reach Kermis on Wednesday afternoon.

– They promised to return to the matter. The next day I was told that I could leave, but it would cost money. The amount wasn’t quite a million euros, but it won’t stay for long.

– Of course, the demand was a complete shock. Since the amount was so huge, I had to stay in Russia due to financial issues, even if I wanted to return to Finland.

In addition to the Finnish volleyball league, Kerminen has played in the French and Russian volleyball leagues.

He joined the men’s national team at the end of the 2012–2013 season. He quickly established his place as the national team’s number one libero.

In 2019, Kerminen was the number one libero of the Russian club Kemerovo when they won the Russian league. At that time, he was chosen as the best libero of the Russian league and the volleyball player of the season in Finland.

Also the star player of the national ice hockey team Tuomas Määtää may threaten to be suspended from the national team’s activities.

Like Kerminen, Määtta played until the end of the spring in Russia.

– I continued to play in Russia when we only have a few games left. Canceling the contract is not that simple, and as the only Finn in the club, I decided to keep good relations with my club so that they can help me return to Finland if necessary, Määttä said, Ilta-Sanom in March (you will switch to another service).

According to the press release of Neftjanik, which plays in the city of Khabarovsk, Määttä trained in Finland during the summer and will be with the team at the next training camp in Irkutsk.

President of the Ice Hockey Association Antti Parviainen says that Määtä’s decision will be discussed at the federal government meeting on August 19.

– When Tuomas made his own decision, we have to think from the point of view of the association, what is our line in relation to national team activities.

In the spring, a law came into force in Latvia that prevents Latvian athletes from participating in the national team’s activities if they compete in Russian or Belarusian leagues.

The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation cannot therefore accept player transfers to Russia.

For example, the Latvian federation did not accept the goalkeeper who celebrated the Finnish championship in Tappara in the spring Janis Kalnins transfer to the KHL club Amur Khabarovsk, although according to the International Hockey Federation the contract should be accepted.

Parviainen says that the Ice Hockey Federation would be able to prevent another transfer abroad. However, it will not be possible to cancel Määtä’s contract because Määtä moved to Russia in 2020.

– It is a transfer that has already been confirmed earlier. Määtta is already playing in his third season in Russia.

– There is no sports law in Finland, as it appears to be in Latvia. The union has no possibility to block such an agreement.