Finland: No ice hockey kits at protests, team urges

The team's shirt and other merchandise was spotted on several people at a recent protest in Tornio

Finland's national ice hockey team has asked people to stop wearing its shirt during anti-immigrant demonstrations.

The blue and white kit of the national side - known as the Lions - has been visible during several recent protests against asylum seekers arriving in Finland, public broadcaster Yle reports. At one such protest in the town of Tornio, people formed a "human wall" and called for the nearby border with Sweden to be closed.

After spotting their colours among the crowds, the national team used its official Twitter account to say: "Attention fans: Can we agree that hockey shirts belong in the stands and not at demonstrations." A similar sentiment was expressed by a former star of the team, Sinuhe Wallinheimo, who is now a member of parliament. "A reminder to Lion shirt-clad demonstrators," he tweeted after the Tornio protest. "The Lions play fair/hard on the ice. Elsewhere they're international and tolerant."

The team's request was welcomed by many Finns on social media, with one person saying the team's kit "shouldn't be hijacked" by the protesters. But some think the shirts aren't the issue. "So the problem is not the racism but the protests?" one person asks, while another says: "Let's agree that during peaceful protests everyone can wear anything they wish - but with their faces visible."

Finland expects about 30,000 asylum seekers to arrive in the country this year, compared to 3,600 last year. Hundreds have recently entered via the border with Sweden.

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