AC Oulu bans spectator for racist chanting at home match in Oulu

AC Oulu has decided to ban a spectator guilty of racist chanting from attending the club’s home matches. This decision was first reported by MTV Uutiset. CEO Jani Kotikangas informed Yle that due to legal limitations, a permanent ban cannot be imposed; instead, the spectator’s access will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in collaboration with security personnel, making it possible to temporarily deny entry.

The incident occurred during AC Oulu’s home match last Saturday, prompting the referee to momentarily halt the game. This event has sparked a public discussion about the responsibility for combating racism in football. Timo Marjamaa, CEO of Veikkausliiga, emphasized that it is a collective challenge for society. He stated, “When it comes to any societal issue, it’s a shared societal challenge. Naturally, we hope anyone can address inappropriate behavior, but how that happens in practice can vary.”

Veikkausliiga rules explicitly prohibit racism, and Marjamaa pointed out that anyone entering the stadium agrees to these terms. He added that in cases of disruptive behavior, it is possible to take direct action against those responsible.

Marjamaa reiterated that there is no place for racism in Veikkausliiga. However, he acknowledged that preventing such behavior can be challenging. “The larger the crowd, the higher the likelihood of a poorly behaving individual within. It’s not easy to control this in advance for a single person, as one cannot predict what is going through people’s minds.”