Player of the Finnish women’s national football team Helmarien Anni Hartikainen20, will not be involved in the Nations League final against Slovakia.
The team traveled to Slovakia on Friday, but Hartikainen stayed together Aada Nurmen, Lotta Lindström and Natalia Kuikan with the Captain’s Ball gala to be awarded. The awarded players traveled to Slovakia on Saturday morning, but Hartikainen missed the flight.
Anni Hartikainen has apologized for what happened. The head coach Marko Saloranta said that after returning to Finland, he will talk to Hartikainen face to face.
Football Association informed the head coach’s decision on Sunday. General Secretary of the Football Association Marco Casagrande says transparency was important in this case.
– There are many things that the team keeps to themselves, if possible – and not even the general secretary is told about all the things. That’s how it should be, a team is a team, Casagrande tells Urheilu.
– At the point when one player does not join the team, even though he has been named… That is something that will be found out sooner or later. When the decision (to leave) was made, it was wise to tell about it. If the matter had been resolved later, it could have had a stronger impact on the team, he continues.
Casagrande says that the national team contracts have similar contract clauses for all players in the A national teams and the under-21 men’s team. The harsh disciplinary decision was made by the head coach, not the Football Association.
– The head coach ended up with this and I trust that it is the right solution, says Casagrande.
– It is clear that this kind of thing is of interest to the media. It’s a different matter how long it takes to make a story about it, and how big it is in the news. And how much we bring that other perspective and understanding that we are human and make mistakes. The player has surely received a sufficient punishment. Anni has apologized and raised her hand. Probably, little by little, everyone has reason to look forward.
He believes that the main reason for being absent is being late for the flight. Casagrande says that the Finnish Football Federation has no reason to deal with the case any further.
– As far as the Finnish Football Association is concerned, I think it’s quite clear that this is an internal matter for the team. A matter between the coach and the player. Once they’ve dealt with this, it’s clear.
The expert believes in trust
Urheilu’s football expert Essi Sainio says that this should not have happened. He reminds that Hartikainen’s career has been on the upswing during the past year.
– The question arises, do sports systems support individuals whose careers are on a rocket-like rise? Is there support in Finland that takes care of the players in moments of success? It is not always required to only intervene in crises, but also to provide support in those moments when success comes, Sainio points out.
Hartikainen said in the Finnish Football Association’s press release that he hopes to get a chance to win the team’s trust. Expert Sainio believes that Hartikainen will certainly be able to restore trust.
– This is not a career-ending mistake. You can make mistakes. Not all things have to be accepted, but then they are discussed and thought about. This is something to grow and learn from.
Sainio thinks that people have understood that mistakes happen. He estimates that the reactions to the incident show that top women’s sports in Finland have developed.
– This reveals a good direction of development, when the matter is approached as if it were a top athlete. I hope Anni Hartikainen can grow into that role, learn from her mistake and still be useful to Finnish football.
The team focuses on the last match of the year
Finland will play its last match of the year on Tuesday, December 5. The team will face Slovakia in the final match of the Nations League B-League.
Finnish attacker Linda Sällström says the team is focused on preparing for the Slovakia game. He states that he was not present at the gala organized in Helsinki, and therefore does not know the background of the case.
– What has happened in Finland has happened in Finland. We have team rules and they must be followed. If they are not followed, there may be sanctions, or perhaps there should be sanctions. This is a matter between Make (Saloranta) and Ann (Hartikainen), says Sällström.
Also a defender Emma Koivisto stresses that the team is focused on their upcoming match. According to him, the team wants to finish the Nations League properly.
– It’s great that we’ve won all the games and haven’t conceded a single goal. We want to continue on Tuesday, says Koivisto.