DistantNews
Support us
Football | Jani Honkavaara Was Threatened in Sweden: Cross Appeared at Training Center, Police Investigating
🇫🇮 Finland /Sports

Football | Jani Honkavaara Was Threatened in Sweden: Cross Appeared at Training Center, Police Investigating

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Under investigation
  • Djurgården's head coach, Jani Honkavaara, received a threat involving a cross placed at the team's training center, which police are investigating.
  • The incident occurred after the team suffered two consecutive losses, including a derby defeat to AIK.
  • Despite the unsettling event, the team rallied, securing a decisive 3-0 victory against Malmö, with Finnish players Matias Siltanen, Miro Tenho, and Adam Ståhl playing the full match.

Djurgården's head coach, Jani Honkavaara, experienced a deeply unsettling week after a cross, interpreted as a threat, appeared at the team's training center. The incident, which occurred last Friday, prompted the club to file a police report. Honkavaara described the event as an attempt by an unknown individual to disrupt the team.

It felt heavy on Friday morning. The message was that someone – we don't know who – tried to disturb the team. We didn't want it to affect us.

— Jani HonkavaaraDescribing the emotional impact of the threat discovered at the training center.

"It felt heavy on Friday morning. The message was that someone – we don't know who – tried to disturb the team. We didn't want it to affect us," Honkavaara told TV4, as reported by Aftonbladet. The appearance of the cross followed two consecutive defeats for Djurgården, including a significant 1-3 loss to local rivals AIK.

Honkavaara, however, emphasized his resilience, stating, "I can handle this. I'm a big boy, but I called my family and made sure everyone was okay." The unsettling incident appeared to galvanize the team, as they delivered a commanding performance on Monday, defeating Malmö 3-0 away. "We didn't want this to even get out to the media because we had had a good week and didn't want any disturbance. What happened forged us together, and the team reacted as one. There was a bit more fiery talk in the locker room before the match than usual," Honkavaara added.

I can handle this. I'm a big boy, but I called my family and made sure everyone was okay.

— Jani HonkavaaraReassuring about his personal resilience while ensuring his family's well-being.

Djurgården, currently fourth in the league standings, featured Finnish players Matias Siltanen, Miro Tenho, and Adam Ståhl, all of whom played the entire match. The team's strong response to the adversity demonstrates their determination and unity.

We didn't want this to even get out to the media because we had had a good week and didn't want any disturbance. What happened forged us together, and the team reacted as one. There was a bit more fiery talk in the locker room before the match than usual.

— Jani HonkavaaraExplaining how the incident unified the team and fueled their subsequent victory.
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.

More Stories

From Our Blog