Liiga’s board approved changes to the league’s competition rules and safety instructions on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. The new provisions give referees the power to stop play or temporarily suspend a game when a non-minor breach of safety rules occurs in the stands, whether or not it affects the action on the ice.
Examples include displaying prohibited banners or symbols, possessing or using pyrotechnics, throwing objects and violent behaviour. Any stoppage must be necessary and proportionate. If there is immediate danger, play must be stopped without delay. The referee decides whether to suspend or resume a game after receiving sufficient information and, where possible, consulting the safety manager and a Liiga representative. Play can resume once the incident has ended and required safety measures are in place.
The updated safety instructions also cover entrance checks and responses to threats and dangerous situations. Posters, tifos, banners and similar materials must be approved in advance by the host club’s safety organisation, including their content. Instructions from competent authorities must always be followed.