Historic Finnish side FC Haka’s stadium was set on fire upon their relegation from the top flight Veikkausliiga.
The nine time champions and 12 time Finnish Cup winners went down for the first time since 2020 and later their Tehtaan Kenttä stadium was found with a stand burned down.
The Finnish media now report that three 15 year olds were in the stadium when the fire started and one of them has now admitted to starting it.
They add that charges are unlikely to follow due to their ages.
They could, however, be liable for the damages caused.
One of a number of club statements read: “The destruction of the end stand of FC Haka’s home ground, Tehtaas, in a fire is a huge blow to the entire club community. The stand fire also destroyed the football pitch, at least partially rendering it unusable.
“The fire is a truly tragic incident. Everyone, from the players to the supporters, is deeply shocked. The surprising and uncontrolled event affects many and shakes the sense of security. Fortunately, no personal injuries were sustained and the excellent work of the Rescue Service, VPK and other operators managed to protect the other buildings at the Tehtaas field, says Marko Laaksonen, Chairman of the Board of FC Hakan.
“FC Haka’s season ended with relegation from the Veikkausliiga, which also puts the club in a challenging financial situation. Haka has just published a revised sports strategy and announced that their goal for next season is to return to the Veikkausliiga.
“We are not yet able to accurately assess the financial damage caused by the fire. In any case, it is clear that the effects are significant and, at least for a while, the club’s operations will be hampered in many different ways. We will need the support of the entire community to get back to normal everyday life. Fortunately, the team is able to continue preparing for the season almost normally. We at Haka are committed to giving our all to the club we love, so we will get through this too, Laaksonen says.
“The football pitch at the factory is owned by the city of Valkeakoski. The surface of the pitch was damaged in the fire, at least partially rendering it unusable.
“We are truly saddened by the fire at Tehtaas Field. Tehtaas is a beloved place for the people of Koski, and the city is committed to maintaining Tehtaas Field. Now our task is to find out what it takes to get the field back into playing condition.”
Due to their numerous titles, Haka have qualified for European competitions numerous times but often not made it through the qualifying stages.
Overall they’ve made it through and contested four Champions League/European Cup campaigns and three Europa League/UEFA Cup seasons.
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