Teenagers set stadium on fire after club is relegated from the Finnish top flight

FC Haka, one of Finland’s oldest and largest clubs, saw its stadium, Tehtaas, torched by angry fans after being relegated from Veikkausliiga, the premier league of Finnish men’s football.

A 400-seat wooden stand at the stadium was set on fire on December 7 and local police have confirmed that three minors were present at the venue during the fire – they said all were under the age of 15. Euro news.

Only the beams of the roof are still present, while the advertising boards and parts of the artificial grass have suffered serious damage, according to a statement by Detective Maijastiina Tammisto of the Sisä-Suomi police.

However, under Finnish law, minors cannot be prosecuted.

“However, the absence of criminal liability does not mean that there is no liability for damage,” Tammisto said. “There is no minimum age for compensation in Finland.”

“Police hope that discussion of the matter remains appropriate and reminds people that inappropriate and personal communications could in itself lead to a criminal investigation,” Tammisto added.

The stadium, called ‘Factory Field’ in English, is located in the Finnish city of Valkeakoski and has been the home of FC Haka since the 1930s.

FC Haka chairman Marko Laaksonen said the extent of financial damage to the club is expected to be large, but the exact number has yet to be calculated.

“We certainly didn’t need this… We have already received a lot of support from people, and we will still need it in the future,” Laaksonen told Finnish media. The club has already started preparations to make the stadium playable again.

Published on December 12, 2025