Feb 19 • 22:19 UTC 🇫🇮 Finland Ilta-Sanomat

There is a stir in the SM-liiga – events of the controversial match are being investigated

The SM-liiga is investigating the events of a match between Tappara and JYP, where multiple fights broke out on the ice.

The managing director of SM-liiga, Mikko Pulkkinen, has initiated a disciplinary review concerning the incidents that took place during Wednesday's match between Tappara and JYP. According to Pulkkinen, the disciplinary delegation will need to assess the responsibilities of both teams and their head coaches regarding the altercations that took place. The match was marked by three separate fights, which raised concerns about player conduct in the league.

Early in the match, Tappara's Emil Sylvegård and JYP's Antti Tyrväinen engaged in a punch-up just 17 seconds into the game. Tensions escalated as further altercations ensued during the last minute, involving Tappara’s Juuso Nykänen and JYP’s Aaro Vidgren, along with Ondrej Pavel from Tappara and Väinö Liikonen from JYP. Following the fights, both Sylvegård and Tyrväinen received two-match suspensions from the league, indicating a strict approach towards maintaining discipline among the players.

The confrontational match led to the ejection of both teams' head coaches, Rickard Grönborg of Tappara and Petri Matikainen of JYP, after the third fight took place. This incident has not only sparked discussions within the league but has also raised questions about player safety and the league's policies on fighting and player conduct. The disciplinary review aims to address these concerns and ensure that such incidents do not occur in future matches.

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