Urgent: Finland’s Floorball League Faces Major Betting Scandal
UPDATE: A major integrity crisis is unfolding in Finland’s top floorball league as investigations reveal widespread betting violations among players and officials. The Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (SUEK) has confirmed that approximately 100 individuals are under scrutiny for allegedly exploiting insider information to place bets on F-League matches.
The investigation, which began in December after suspicious betting patterns were detected during a Finland–Norway World Championship match, has escalated into an unprecedented scandal. Investigators are now examining rampant gambling violations that involve players, coaches, and various team personnel across the league. It remains unclear if the individuals implicated are part of a larger organized scheme.
In response to the serious allegations, Veikkaus, Finland’s state-run gambling monopoly, has suspended all betting activities related to men’s floorball competitions, including the F-League and Finnish Cup. Mikko Lahti, Veikkaus’s VP of security and risk management, expressed shock at the scale of the violations and the rapid growth of the investigation’s scope.
“We systematically went through all teams, players, and officials. When we compiled all the information, the situation and the extent of the mess became clear,”
Lahti stated. He further confirmed that several betting accounts linked to the investigation have been frozen, although he did not reveal the total amount of suspicious wagers or the largest single payout due to the ongoing inquiry.
The repercussions of this scandal could be significant. SUEK reports that its investigation is approximately three-quarters complete, with new leads still surfacing. Direct evidence of match-fixing has not yet surfaced, but the use of insider information for betting constitutes a serious violation.
Both the Finnish Floorball Federation and the F-League have stated they will initiate disciplinary actions against any implicated individuals once SUEK delivers its findings. Possible sanctions could include suspensions, fines, or even lifetime bans, depending on the severity of the offenses. Furthermore, criminal complaints for particularly egregious cases are also being considered.
Mikko Lahti emphasized the importance of thorough investigative work, stating,
“We want to be certain before we make any decisions about possible betting options.”
This scandal casts a dark shadow over the upcoming men’s F-League season, which is set to kick off on September 10. As the integrity of the sport is called into question, players and clubs are under pressure to restore trust with their fans and sponsors. With wagering activities suspended indefinitely, the fallout from SUEK’s revelations could reshape the landscape of one of Finland’s most beloved community sports.
As developments unfold, all eyes will be on how this situation evolves and what impact it will have on both the integrity of the league and the enjoyment of its fans. Stay tuned for further updates on this breaking story as more information becomes available.
