In Sweden, the bowl turned upside down – Finnish referees targeted by a wave of criticism: “Arrogant”
Switzerland defeated Sweden in the World Championship quarterfinal match on Thursday with a score of 3-1 and advanced to the semifinals. At the same time, Sweden’s tournament came to an end and head coach Sam Hallam‘s time with Tre Kronor also concluded.
In the match and afterwards, the Finnish referees Riku Brander and Mikko Kaukokari came under scrutiny. The Swedish camp was not pleased with the situations in which the team’s NHL players Oskar Sundqvist and Oliver Ekman-Larsson faced tough challenges.
Switzerland’s NHL star Timo Meier knee-checked Sundqvist, but escaped the situation without a penalty, receiving only a two-minute minor for cross-checking. Sundqvist left the game early and was even seen in a wheelchair after the match.
Hallam and the Swedish players were seething with anger towards the Finnish referees.
– Unbelievably ugly. Cowardly referees. They had already given one ejection, so they didn’t dare to give another, said Ivar Stenberg according to Aftonbladet.
Switzerland’s defender Dean Kukan was sent to the showers in the opening period for cross-checking.
Ekman-Larsson was injured in a checking situation, where the Swedes blame Nino Niederreiter for a leg sweep.
– They were very arrogant at that moment. I tried to urge them to look at the situation on video. They were not very enthusiastic about it, and the discussion ended quickly, said Mattias Ekholm.
Sweden’s Viaplay expert Erik Granqvist also had some direct words about the actions of the Finnish referees.
– That was a clear ejection. A really ugly move by Meier. There was also a cross-check involved, but he extends his left knee and that is a knee check. That was really dangerous.
– Sundqvist could be out for six months or, in the worst case, for the rest of his career. The referees were really bad, Granqvist stated.
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