Over 100 Finnish floorball figures broke betting ban, probe reveals
Summary
The Finnish Sports Ethics Centre (SUEK) investigation found 114 players and club officials placed more than 1,000 bets on Finnish floorball matches between 2021 and 2025. The report, submitted to the Finnish Floorball Federation’s disciplinary department on 2 October 2025, describes the breaches as “extensive and long-lasting.”
Ten people (players, sports directors, managers, assistant coaches and guardians) accounted for roughly 80% of the violations. Some bets were placed on the bettors’ own teams — including bets against themselves. The largest single offender placed 184 bets worth over €8,600.
SUEK probed two suspected insider-information cases: Finland vs Norway at the 2024 World Cup and the Classic–SPV F-League semi-final. Abnormal betting patterns were flagged by state operator Veikkaus, but SUEK says it lacks powers to access phones or private communications to fully investigate. No evidence of match-fixing was found, so police will not be contacted. The case has exposed gaps in insider-information rules; the Finnish Olympic Committee is reviewing those rules, the Finnish Floorball Federation will decide domestic sanctions, and the International Floorball Federation may examine the World Cup matter.
Key Points
- 114 players and club officials placed more than 1,000 bets on floorball matches from 2021–2025.
- About 10 individuals were responsible for roughly 80% of the betting breaches.
- Bets included wagers on their own teams, sometimes against themselves; the largest case involved 184 bets totalling over €8,600.
- SUEK investigated two insider-information suspicions (2024 World Cup and an F-League semi-final); Veikkaus flagged abnormal betting patterns.
- SUEK cannot access phones or private communications, limiting its investigative reach.
- No match-fixing was proven; police will not be notified, but rule and governance gaps have been exposed.
- The Finnish Olympic Committee is reviewing insider-information rules; national and international federations will decide on sanctions and further action.
Context and relevance
This is an important integrity story for sport and gambling regulation. It highlights how betting breaches can be widespread within a sport and concentrated among a small group of actors, and it exposes practical limits in current investigative powers. For betting operators, regulators, clubs and sports-governance bodies, the findings underline the need for clearer insider-information rules, better monitoring, and stronger enforcement tools.
The case also fits a wider trend of increased scrutiny on betting-related misconduct in sport, and it may prompt regulatory and policy changes in Finland and potentially at international federation level.
Why should I read this?
Quick and blunt: 114 people, 1,000+ bets, a handful of repeat offenders, and clear holes in the rulebook. If you care about sports integrity, betting compliance or operator risk, this is one you don’t want to miss — it shows how big problems can hide in a small sport and how current powers can fall short of getting the full story.
Source
Source: https://next.io/news/betting/finnish-floorball-figures-broke-betting-ban/
