Finland’s Floorball League Rocked by Wagering Scandal

The country’s regulator uncovered a wide-ranging disregard for integrity rules as its probe revealed hundreds of potential violationsImage Source: Shutterstock.com

A brewing integrity crisis in Finland’s top floorball league threatens to undermine the sport’s reputation after an extensive investigation uncovered widespread betting violations among players and officials. TheFinnish Center for Integrity in Sports (SUEK) confirmed that around 100 individualsare under investigation for allegedly placing bets on F-League matches by abusing inside information.

Investigators Remain Tight-Lipped

The probe began around December after integrity bodies flagged suspicious betting patterns following aFinland–NorwayWorld Championship match. The investigation swiftly uncovered gambling violationson an unprecedented scale, involving players, coaches, and other team personnel across the league. It is yet unclear whether the suspects were part of an organized ring.

Veikkaus, the state-run gambling monopoly of Finland, has suspended all betting activities surrounding men’s floorball competitions, including those of theF-League, Finnish Cup, international match betting, andInssi-divari. Mikko Lahti, Veikkaus’s VP of security and risk management, was stunned bythe scope of the violations, which only grew as the investigation progressed. 

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.

Mikko Lahti, Veikkaus VP of security and risk management 

Lahti confirmed that Veikkaus has already frozenseveral betting accountslinked to the investigation. However, he refused to disclosethe total amount of suspicious wagers or the size of the largest single payout. Lahti noted that some secrecy remained necessary due to the ongoing investigation and added that additional information would become public when appropriate.

The Scandal Could Have Significant Repercussions

SUEK reports its investigation is roughlythree-quarters complete, with new leads still emerging. Direct evidence of match-fixing has proven elusive in early data, so investigators continue to examine whether suspectstampered with game outcomes. While Lahti admitted the probe has not yet uncovered evidence of match fixing, the use of insider informationfor betting remains a serious breach.

TheFinnish Floorball Federationand the F-League have confirmed that they will open disciplinary proceedingsagainst implicated individuals once SUEK delivers its findings. Sanctions may range from suspensions to fines or even life bans, depending on the seriousness of the offense. Criminal complaintsfor particularly egregious cases are also a possibility.

Investigative work is still ongoing. We want to be certain before we make any decisions about possible betting options.

Mikko Lahti, Veikkaus VP of security and risk management 

The scandal comes just before the new season of the men’s F-League launchesSeptember 10, casting a shadow over the sport. Players and clubs will seek toregain the trust of their fans and sponsors. With wagering suspended indefinitely, it remains uncertain how SUEK’s revelations will affect what many regard as one of Finland’s most popular community-orientedsports.