The Finnish Floorball Federation has handed out 80 temporary bans to players and staff after a major investigation uncovered widespread violations of betting rules. The inquiry, conducted by the Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (SUEK) with support from Veikkaus data, found no evidence of match manipulation, but confirmed extensive prohibited betting within the sport.
Federation Confirms 80 Suspensions
The federation’s Competition and Disciplinary Committee announced suspensions ranging from two to seven months. These decisions follow a months-long process that began when SUEK analyzed betting activity over the summer using detailed information from Veikkaus.
After reviewing SUEK’s findings in the autumn, the committee finalized its rulings at the start of December, closing a significant chapter in the case.
During the investigation, Veikkaus temporarily pulled men’s top-tier floorball from its betting markets. The company expects to reinstate the sport soon while continuing to monitor betting patterns and customer behavior across all sports.
No Evidence of Match Fixing
Mikko Lahti, Veikkaus’ Director of Risk Management and Security, emphasized that although prohibited betting was “extensive and systematic,” the inquiry found no indicators of manipulated match results.
“Now that the sanctions have been imposed, it is a good time to start with a clean slate… our biggest concern, the possibility of match manipulation, was not supported by any findings,” he said.
Lahti stressed the importance of this conclusion for maintaining trust in the sport and in Finland’s regulated betting system.
Further Inquiry Linked to 2024 World Championship Match
SUEK will launch an additional investigation into five individuals connected to the Finland–Norway match at the 2024 World Floorball Championships. This follow-up review will continue into next year, and the federation plans to update the public once more information becomes available.
Case Closed Without Police Involvement
Veikkaus considers the matter resolved following the disciplinary decisions. Lahti praised the cooperation between Veikkaus, SUEK, and the Floorball Federation, noting that the organizations handled the complex case consistently and seriously.
He also confirmed that Veikkaus will not file a police report, stating:
“Based on the information we have, we have decided that we will not file a police report on this matter.”
A Reset Moment for Finnish Floorball
With sanctions now in place and no signs of match manipulation, the Finnish Floorball Federation aims to move forward and reinforce integrity standards across the sport. The federation and its partners hope the issue serves as a reminder—and deterrent—to prevent future breaches.
