No investigation has been started into the own goals scored by SJK players.
SJK’s Ayo Obileye is another player who scored an own goal. Matti Raivio / AOP
The own goals scored by the players of the Seinäjoki Football Club, which plays in the Veikkausliiga, speak volumes.
Although the discussion on social media and internet discussion forums has been heated, nothing suspicious has been detected from the Veikkausliiga’s side in the goals.
No party has started an investigation into their own goals to investigate possible match manipulation.
Discussion has been sparked by two own goals scored by SJK players. They are confusingly similar to each other.
The first own goal was seen in the match between SJK and HJK on October 22. SJK’s British topper Come on Obileye headed the ball into his own goal from a corner kick in the 86th minute of the match. Thanks to the hit, HJK took a 3–2 lead in the match.
However, at the end of the match, SJK rushed past the Helsinki team with two goals and took the win.
The next own goal was seen in an identical situation 27.10. i.e. five days later.
This time the ball was headed from the opponent’s corner into the own goal Samuel Chukwudi.
The goal happened at the start of extra time, so it had a huge meaning for the match. KuPS won the match 1–0 as a result of Chukwudi’s own goal, taking a firm hold on the Finnish championship.
“Why investigate?”
Samuel Chukwudi’s own goal can be a significant hit in terms of this season’s championship. Pasi Suokko / AOP
Speculations about the possible intentionality of the own goals started among football fans immediately.
However, the discussion on Facebook and discussion boards has not caused any measures at the offices of Veikkausliiga or Palloliitto.
The attitude towards Iltalehti’s contact and the questions asked seemed to be genuine confusion.
– Yes, mistakes happen in football. Where there are people in action, mistakes happen, CEO of Veikkausliiga Timo Marjamaa says.
Has there been any kind of investigation into this?
– Why would any kind of investigation be started on this?
Isn’t it rather suspicious that within a short period of time [tehdään] two identical goals like that? Still in the final moments of the matches, where it is not only about winning the match, but also in the second case a very big importance for the championship fight?
– There is always the possibility of mistakes. And no one ever knows when there will be errors. It can come in the middle of the game, or in a game that may have already been decided. When the interest is high, then they come to the fore even more. There are certainly feelings in every direction.
Regarding the Veikkausliiga, according to Marjamaa, nothing out of the ordinary has been observed in the goals.
– We don’t react to our own goals just because someone is upset. If there were some kind of signals [vilpillisestä toiminnasta]so of course we would start looking at the cases. But now, no such claims have been made from any direction.
Betting is normal
Head of Veikkaus’ communications unit Tomi Auremaa tells Iltalehte that Veikkaus has not taken any measures regarding the two SJK matches.
– The exchange and game behavior related to the matches were at a normal level for us. We didn’t offer any player-specific special bets, says Auremaa.
– In the SJK–KuPS game, the odds were moving around the world on the day of the game in the direction of KuPS’s victory and plenty of goals, but not by a suspicious amount.
Communications Director of the Football Association Taru Nyholm says that no measures deviating from normal operating procedures have been initiated regarding SJK’s matches.
– The basic protocol includes that exceptional own goals are examined and betting data is examined in compliance with the principle of certainty. If something comes to light in the reports, which causes additional measures or the initiation of a disciplinary process, then this is how it will be done, Nyholm informs.
The own goals seen in SJK’s matches have also not progressed to Suek’s competition manipulation investigation. In order to proceed there, someone would have to make an investigation request to Suek about the matter.