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🇫🇮 Finland /Sports

Finnish Player Gets 29-Month Ban for Kicking Referee

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A Finnish football player received a 29-month ban for violently attacking a referee during a match.
  • The ban, effective until the end of 2028, covers both football and futsal.
  • The incident occurred after the player received a red card, leading to his dismissal from the club and a criminal complaint.

A Finnish football player has received an exceptionally long 29-month ban for physically assaulting a referee during a match in the men's fourth division. The Finnish Football Association announced the severe penalty, which extends until the end of 2028 and includes both football and futsal.

Such a player will never play or step onto the field in our jersey again. He does not represent us and is not welcome at club matches even as a spectator.

— Amir MehmetiFC Eagles team manager on the player's dismissal from the club.

The incident unfolded in Tuusula when the player, representing FC Eagles, became enraged after receiving a red card in the 75th minute. He struck the referee in the face, causing the official to fall to the ground, before kicking him in the head.

I am a former player myself and have coached juniors for years. Such an event is horrifying. Violence does not belong in football or anywhere else.

— Amir MehmetiFC Eagles team manager expressing shock at the incident.

The Football Association condemned the act as "intentional, gross, and completely against the values of football," describing it as "exceptionally serious." A criminal complaint has been filed regarding the assault. FC Eagles had already dismissed the player from the club, with team manager Amir Mehmeti stating the player would never play for them again and was not welcome even as a spectator.

Sometimes all sorts of things are said to the referee during games, but no one has ever laid hands on me. It's quite unbelievable. I didn't expect a player to come and hit me.

— RefereeThe referee describing the attack and his disbelief.

Mehmeti expressed his dismay, stating, "Such an event is horrifying. Violence does not belong in football or anywhere else." The club has reached out to the referee to offer well wishes for his recovery. The referee reported being "unconscious for a couple of seconds" and found the physical attack "unbelievable." Despite the severity of the incident, the referee avoided serious injury, with head and neck scans showing no fractures. The match was abandoned, resulting in a 300 euro fine for FC Eagles, and their opponents, TuPS/Skavaböle, were awarded a 3-0 victory.

I was unconscious for a couple of seconds.

— RefereeThe referee describing the immediate aftermath of the assault.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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