The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority is still investigating matters related to the organization of the SM league.
The series system of the SM league speaks volumes. Stock photo. Matti Raivio / AOP
The Finnish Competition and Consumer Agency (KKV) denies the information about its role in the changes to the SM league’s series system.
According to KKV, there has been an allegation in the public that the agency would have approved in advance the series system reform proposed for the SM league. The reform includes, among other things, a new type of series qualification.
KKV, however, emphasizes in its announcement that the control it performs is retrospective. It has the authority to pre-approve procedures, and “the proposed serial system reform cannot be pre-approved”.
The agency has clarified the procedures related to the organization of the SM league already from the summer of 2024. The investigation is still ongoing.
– The agency also does not have the authority to directly determine how ice hockey is to be played in Finland or how ice hockey series activities are organized. The agency’s investigation focuses on ensuring that the SM league’s organizing methods do not unnecessarily limit the conditions for economic competition in hockey, the KKV press release states.
SM-liiga oy is scheduled to make a decision on the league’s new series system at the general meeting at the end of November.
– KKV also monitors the progress of the proposed series system reform and takes this into account in its investigation, but the agency does not have the authority to approve the reform in advance, the release says.