Antti Boman’s long career as a league referee ends this spring.
Antti Boman has been chosen eight times in a row, in the seasons 2017–25, as the best league referee in the players’ vote. MIKA KYLMÄNIEMI / AOP
Antti Bomanin his retirement from league referee duties has aroused criticism and bewilderment in puck circles. On my own on their X accounts JYP’s conkarpiarti took a stand on the matter Antti Tyrväinen and Jukurie’s head coach Jonne Virtanen.
Both rate Boman among the elite of league referees.
Why does the League have a rule that fifty is too old to referee, sports director Jussi Markkanen?
– There is no such rule.
Is it a practice rather than a rule?
– We’ve had a few over fifty, but that’s where it starts in countries when you start looking at other things. The game is quite fast-paced, so we understand that as we get older, the challenges on that side grow for all of us.
The right solution?
Boman turned 51 years old in the season that turned to the end. He is still one of the most advanced whistlers in the league, as Tyrväinen and Virtanen underline on their X accounts.
– There have been discussions with Bubi for many years and it has always been stated that we will go one more year, Markkanen explains.
– Last year it was stated that we will go one more year, but then it is time to move on to possibly help younger judges.
Looking at Boman’s whistling now, do you feel that the solution is correct?
– We never know what the right moment is. We haven’t had any problems with Bubi whistling. He is still our top referee. That’s not the issue here, Markkanen spins.
– Yes, we have gone through this together and determined that maybe now is the right time to move.
Surely the decision is final?
– We have not discussed the matter, neither from his side nor from ours, that he would continue, Markkanen answers.
– We have discussed how we could utilize his expertise in other ways. We certainly have a use for his expertise in training and coaching.
