Editorial Football has earned the support of the public

Editorial|Editorial

Soccer season culminates this week as KuPS and HJK struggle for the Finnish championship.

The coronavirus epidemic has hit football hard. Last fall, the series had to end prematurely, and the early season was played in empty or half-empty stands. Viewers have not returned to the gallery even after the audience restrictions were lifted. Last Saturday’s match Honka – Haka was followed by a pathetic 327 spectators. The crowds of many other league games have been miserable as well.

Reasons for the crowd can be invented from infectious fears to autumn rains, but these things don’t seem to bother you in Sweden, where stadiums bulge supporters. More than 10,000 spectators regularly attend the games of the major Swedish clubs, while Finland already has a great 2,000 audience.

The loss of the audience is a strange thing, as the men’s and women’s national teams have proved that good football is played in Finland. However, players cannot rise to the international top alone; it needs an audience – a football culture.

The editorials are HS’s statements on a topical issue. The writings are prepared by the editorial staff of HS and reflect the magazine principle.