Finland Faces Shocking Lineup Blunder as Retired 51-Year-Old Registered Instead of Defender—What Went Wrong?
Instead of the 23-year-old Djurgården defender, team manager Outi Saarinen had selected the similarly-named but very much retired Stina Ruuskananen when sending in the squad list to UEFA.
The elder Ruuskanen, 51, had not played for Finland since 1996 but was still listed in UEFA’s system.
The error came to light in the hours leading up to the game in Helsinki, at which point Finland had to break the sad news to Nanne Ruuskanen.
Saarinen said in a Finnish FA statement: “Nanne was, of course, disappointed but took the news very well considering the circumstances. I am very sorry for the mistake.”
Post Comment