When you're one of the most popular football clubs in Finland and you have such a bad season that you get dropped to a lower league, this is what happens, apparently:
FC Haka is one of the more popular football clubs in Finland, having won nine Finnish Championships and twelve Finnish Cup titles.
This year wasn't so good. FC Haka won just four of their 27 games, finishing in last place and being relegated to the second division. This is pretty standard for soccer leagues, as there are teams in that lower division that are fighting for a spot in the big leagues and will move up to take your place.
What is not standard for the sport is teenagers starting your stadium on fire after your relegation.
Here's Euronews with more info:
A teenager has confessed to starting a fire that destroyed a stand at the stadium of a storied Finnish football club, police said on Wednesday, though the suspect cannot face criminal charges due to age.
Three minors, all under 15, were present when the blaze began at FC Haka's Tehtaan kenttä stadium in Valkeakoski ...
The fire broke out around 8 pm on Sunday and spread rapidly through the wooden structure, which held 400 spectators at the 3,200-capacity stadium built in 1934.
Factory Field, as it translates to English, is situated in the center of Valkeakoski, which is home to around 20,000 people. Parts of the pitch, or field, which is an artificial surface, were damaged in the fire as well.
The teen who started the fire cannot be charged with arson, because he is fifteen. However, the detective on the case clarifies, "There is no minimum age for compensation liability in Finland."
The cost of damages has not yet been calculated.
Well, hopefully this sets a fire under FC Haka and they'll come out and dominate the second division in 2026.
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
