FC Pohu’s appeal went through: Veikkausliiga club Gnista out of the Suomen Cup

IF Gnistan’s difficulties continue. Picture: Jussi Eskola

Football Association the objection committee has accepted the appeal submitted by the soccer club FC Pohu regarding the Finnish Cup match between FC Pohu/CJ United-IF Gnista played on April 14.

The objection committee considered that Gnistan intimidated players who did not have the right to representation in the match that ended in a 2–0 victory. Thus, it changed the result of the match to a 3–0 victory for FC Pohu/CJ United.

This means that Gnistan, who plays in the Veikkausliiga, will be eliminated from the Suomen Cup. FC Pohu/CJ United, who play six points lower in the league, continue to the next round of the tournament.

Gnistan can appeal the decision to the Sports Legal Protection Board. Gnistan was scheduled to face EBK next Tuesday, April 28.

In his complaint, Pohu stated that Gnistan had not registered the contracts of all his players in the Palloliitto Pelipaikka system before the match. The club interpreted the rules so that proper registration of the player contract is a prerequisite for the right of representation.

Referring to the competition regulations, Gnistan considered that a valid player contract is sufficient for the right of representation. According to it, the correct penalty for missing registration would be a default fee and not the annulment of the match result.

Objection Board emphasized in his decision that the competition regulations do not state unequivocally what kind of sanctions would result from not registering the player’s contract.

Instead, the rules of the Finnish Cup outline that a player’s right to representation requires a valid and registered player contract.

“The objection committee considered that the rules of the Men’s Finnish Cup 2026 must be considered as special provisions in relation to the general competition regulations. In accordance with general principles of legal interpretation, the special provision supersedes the general provision, which is why the players’ right to play was evaluated primarily on the basis of the rules of the Finnish Cup”, In the bulletin of the Swedish Football Association was told.