Rikard Grönborg doesn’t understand MTV’s decision to publish a video of Jyri Rönn’s rant.
Iltalehti’s reporter was on site at the Tappara-HIFK match on Saturday, when Tappara’s head coach Rikard Grönborg yelled “Fuck you!” to the head referee Jyri Rönni several times.
MTV released the audio tape on Monday, where screams are clearly heard. The Swedish coach’s outburst took place outside the door of the press room.
Grönborg shared his own view on the release of the audio tape in a podcast called Kirvescast.
– Two adults were talking privately. Did it have grown-up words? Yes it was. The fact that it was published was offensive to me. They set a public trap for me, Grönborg said and continued:
– For me, a partner is a partner. This could have been handled more professionally instead of going public. I think it was a huge fraud when the media partner published it.
MTV televises all SM league matches and acts as the media partner of the SM league.
Claim about Rönni
Rikard Grönborg is in his first season as Tappara’s head coach. Jaakko Stenroos/AOP
Grönborg had had a discussion with Rönni about the two riots that happened in the HIFK match.
According to the coach, they should have been big penalties, but the match’s jury didn’t judge any of them. He wanted to make his opinion clear to Rönn.
– It must be shown that such a thing cannot happen. I found out that the head referee had had an argument with my coaching staff and had shouted at them, so that agitated me even more.
Grönborg was fined 10,000 euros for his outburst.
MTV Urheilu’s program manager Markus Autero stated on Thursday to Iltalehti that the audio tape in question should not have been published at all.
– The comments on the video tape took place outside the actual press conference, before the coaches arrived at the event. The tape should not have been put out, Autero told IL.
– The press conference is running during the interval when the coaches enter and leave the picture. The recording is on and the camera is running for technical reasons, but that doesn’t justify that if something sticks to the tape, you can put them there.
90s puck
Jyri Rönn is the head referee of the SM league. Jaakko Stenroos/AOP
Grönborg has been at odds with the judges several times this season.
The passionate coach has often given direct feedback to the judges and, according to his own words, has sent Rönni many video clips during the season and asked for clarifications and explanations of various situations.
According to Grönborg, the SM league is played like in the 90s. In his opinion, in the SM league, players are allowed to block the opponent’s player without the puck and thus make room for their own teammate, who is, for example, looking for the end puck. According to Grönborg, in the SM league you also get too many hits and grab the opponent’s stick with your free hand without getting caught.
According to him, Tappara has even had to change his training and has had to practice how to play in such situations.
– It hasn’t been part of my playbook for the past 10-15 years and now it suddenly has to be part of my playbook. It’s a big problem and I think the league needs to address it because I don’t think the public wants to see that. The crowd wants to see fast hockey. This is a bigger problem than just Tapparan. This is the problem of the SM league and it must be taken care of.
Tappara will meet Sportin Vaasa on Friday. The match starts at 18:30.