Jokerit forward Patrik Virta will not be suspended over an alleged attempt to kick Ilves’ Erik Borg during their game on 17 October 2026. No penalty was called during the match, but the incident was referred to Liiga’s disciplinary panel for review under the kicking rule.
The panel reviewed the game video and Virta’s written statement. It found that Virta was lying on his back with Borg on top of him when the final buzzer sounded. Borg then pushed Virta in the face with a gloved hand. Virta lifted his upper body and reached out with his right hand to push Borg back; as he did so, his lower leg also rose and swung towards Borg.
The panel judged the leg movement to be an involuntary part of Virta’s upper-body movement, not a deliberate kick or attempted kick. It therefore ruled that the action did not meet the rule’s definition of kicking and that there was no basis for a suspension.