Criminal case opened after clash at children's hockey game in Jelgava
Latvia's State Police have opened a criminal case over a confrontation between parents at a children's hockey match in Jelgava on September 20, in which a coaching assistant was injured. The Latvian Hockey Federation has already sanctioned those involved.
The State Police's Zemgale regional division has confirmed that a criminal case has been opened following an incident at an ice hockey game for children held on September 20 at an ice hall in Jelgava. Police received a complaint stating that parents of players disrupted the game through their behavior, forcing it to be stopped. During the ensuing confrontation, an assistant coach of the hockey club "Tukums/Stiga RM" sustained injuries.
What happened during the match
The incident occurred during a Latvian youth championship U11 game between the Tukums team and "Hockey Planet." According to Latvian Television, serious tensions arose between parents during the game — parents from the "Hockey Planet" team stepped onto the ice and later became involved in a clash with parents from the Tukums team.
Jānis Grands, a Tukums team representative who was responsible for the players' substitution gate during the game, said several parents attacked him from behind as they tried to reach the referee. He managed to push back two of the three attackers, but the parents still ran onto the ice. Grands, who is himself the father of a hockey player and serves on the Latvian Hockey Federation's Parents' Council, said he received threats, including promises that his coaching license would be revoked. He has filed a complaint with police.
The other side's account
Parents from the "Hockey Planet" club, however, believe their actions are being unfairly portrayed and that videos circulating online have been taken out of context. According to them, Tukums team players behaved aggressively throughout the match, which the referee failed to stop and which Tukums coaches did not object to. Parents said they stepped onto the ice after seeing one player lying motionless on the ice for an extended period.
Roberts Pļāvējs, secretary general of the Latvian Hockey Federation, said the situation has been reviewed by the disciplinary committee, and sanctions have already been imposed both on the children whose on-ice behavior triggered the disturbance and on the clubs and parents involved for prior violations.
