The players’ association wants to clarify the boundaries and the interpretation of the rules.
Lock-pack Tarmo Reunanen was at the center of the giant game over the weekend. Elmeri Elo / AOP
– Together with the League, we will go through how to make the interpretation of the rule clearer – but it is probably impossible to make an exhaustive list of words that may not be used.
This is how the executive director of the players’ association commented Risto Kauppinen the weekend Tarmo Reunanen – the aftermath of the commotion.
– In terms of the legal protection of the players, it is important to clarify what cross-border language is, Kauppinen emphasizes.
– We have discussed with the League. We will talk even more.
The reason for Reunanen’s match penalty was first announced as “racist behavior”. The real reason was “unsportsmanlike behavior”.
– The penalty was in accordance with the rules of the game, but there was a regrettable mistake in the reason for the suspension and in announcing it. It caused unnecessary harm to Tarmo Reunanen, Kauppinen points out.
– Already on Saturday, we were in contact with the Liiga management and went through the matter. We (the players’ association) have not been silent.
“A question arises”
Reunanen told Western Finland in the story published on Monday that he said on the ice “fuck you, fucking Mestis gay”. Evening News made news already at the weekend based on his sources, the wording was “fucking hint”.
– The emphasis was on the Mestis word, Reunanen clarified for Western Finland.
– I am extremely sorry that I used a word aimed at a sexual minority, which can certainly be perceived as offensive.
The league suspended Reunanen for one game, but did not specify in its disciplinary decision which words were the basis of the punishment.
Risto Kauppinen, should the League have told us exactly what words Reuna was punished for?
– There has certainly been correct information in the discipline, but I don’t know if it is worth sharing. The most important thing was the correction that it wasn’t a racist remark.
In its announcement on Sunday, Liiga stressed the CEO Mikko Pulkkinen with the mouth that “cross-border unsportsmanlike behavior or language and discrimination in all its possible forms are matters for the League that have zero tolerance”.
Kauppinen states that there has been cross-border language use “probably before”.
– Of course, the question now arises as to whether the line has been tightened. The whole society is moving in such a direction that inappropriate behavior is allowed less and less – which is of course a good thing.