The Competition and Consumer Authority, or KKV, announces that it has concluded its investigation concerning the SM-liiga.

KKV investigated whether the Liiga has restricted competition.

– Based on its preliminary assessment, the authority identified competition issues related to the Liiga’s unrestricted jurisdiction and the condition in the SM-liiga’s licensing terms that a club participating in the league must purchase a league share at a market price according to the Liiga’s view, the KKV’s statement says.

However, the Liiga has taken actions to open up competition, and KKV expressed its satisfaction with this. Since the Liiga has opened up competition, KKV will not continue the investigation and considers the actions sufficient.

The SM-liiga is transitioning to a two-tier league system, where promotion and relegation are possible. In the future, clubs in the SM-liiga may play based on licensing fees, meaning that clubs are not required to purchase a league share.

– Thus, clubs aiming for the SM-liiga no longer need to commit to a potentially competition-restricting requirement, KKV states.

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