The CEO of JYP Jyväskylä Oy, Risto Korpela, gives Iltalehti a reason for Severi Lahtinen’s withdrawal despite the rape charge.
Severi Lahtinen was fired from JYP. Vesa Pöppönen / AOP
- JYP announced on Thursday that it had terminated the player contract of Severi Lahtinen, who was convicted of rape and aggravated drunk driving.
- The contract would have lasted until spring 2025.
- The convicted crimes have taken place in the player’s free time.
The rape verdict came on Tuesday, and in connection with it, it also came up Severi Lahtinen previous, aggravated drunk driving conviction.
JYP believes that criminal convictions violate the contract between the player and the club. The SM league player contract 2020–2024 contains a clause on public appearances (8.10):
In his public activities and appearances, the player undertakes to promote the positive image of the employer and hockey and to avoid activities that conflict with these goals. The player must behave in his private life in such a way that his lifestyle does not endanger his playing condition and fitness and does not cause negative publicity for the employer and hockey.
A different view
Lahtinen received a two-year prison sentence for rape in the district court, but he has said that he intends to appeal the sentence to the Court of Appeal.
– The verdict is not legally binding, so it does not give a unilateral right to terminate the player’s contract. The salary payment obligation continues even at this time, executive director of the players’ association (SJRY). Risto Kauppinen commented to Yle on Tuesday.
– It is now up to the players’ association to consider what they think, Risto Korpela says to Iltalehti.
– We saw these as so burdensome that we no longer have the opportunity to play Severi or to extend the contract.
Korpela also refers to the professor emeritus of labor law Seppo Koskinen for an interview on MTV.
– Koskinen said quite frankly that we have the right to cancel the contract. And of course, we have dealt with this also through our lawyer.
Upside down in court?
If the verdict were to go wrong in court, Lahtinen could challenge his dismissal from JYP and he could be entitled to compensation.
The sports law expert interviewed by Iltalehti on Tuesday Olli Rausteen according to which the player could submit the legality of the termination to a one-man arbitration court under clause 13 (dispute resolution) of the player contract.
– In other words, if the parties disagree on whether the rape verdict entitles JYP to cancel the player’s contract or not, one arbitrator would decide how the matter is, deputy judge Rauste commented to Iltalehte.
A tough decision
Risto Korpela heard about Severi Lahtinen’s rape accusation from Iltalehti. Vesa Pöppönen / AOP
– Terribly pathetic and incredibly difficult decision, but we were forced to do this, Korpela says about Lahtinen’s firing.
– We must remember that there is also another aggravating factor, i.e. gross drunk driving, which no one knew anything about.
Last April, Lahtinen was sentenced to 55 days of suspended imprisonment for aggravated drunk driving. Korpela is surprised that the media did not react to the matter at the time.
– It would have been classy of Sever to tell us about it when he was caught. Or when it was in court.
Lahtinen also did not tell his employer about the rape charge. Korpela heard about it for the first time the other Friday, September 29, when Iltalehti asked him for a comment on the matter.
– It just occurred to me that what are we talking about now, Korpela remembers his surprise.
Why did the man play?
JYP has received harsh criticism in the public for playing Lahti the very next day and in three matches in total after the club had received information about the rape charge and it had been processed in the Päijät-Häme district court.
– In principle, things that happened during free time in private employment relationships do not affect the employment contract, but it depends on whether there is such a condition in the contract. On the other hand, public officials are required to act flawlessly even in their free time, Olli Rauste previously told Iltalehte.
Korpela says that Lahtinen’s gambling was based on this.
– In public administration positions, people can be moved aside for the duration of an investigation, but in the business world this is not the case.
– Of course, when we heard about it, we immediately talked to Sever, and he swore to us his innocence. Since there is a presumption of innocence, we could not go before the judiciary to condemn Sever, who had not yet been convicted in the district court.