A fire that destroyed a stand at FC Haka’s Tehtaan kenttä stadium in Valkeakoski has been confirmed as deliberate, according to Finnish police. Investigators say three minors under the age of 15 were present when the blaze began, with one of them admitting to setting fire to an object that sparked the incident. The case is being investigated as arson, but no criminal charges are expected because Finnish law does not hold under-15s criminally liable. Police stressed, however, that this does not exempt the minors from potential liability for damages, as there is no minimum age for civil compensation in Finland. The fire caused extensive damage, completely destroying one stand and spreading onto the stadium’s artificial turf. FC Haka chair Marko Laaksonen said the financial impact is likely to be significant, although costs have not yet been calculated. The incident has stirred strong emotions locally, coming just weeks after the club’s relegation from the Veikkausliiga, Finland’s top football division.
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