The controversy is here again around EURO 2020, although Finland is already eliminated.
Social media and Russian media have released several videos in which a large group of fans of the Finnish soccer team (the Huuhkajat or Eagle Owls, in English) are seen celebrating with Russian fans before the matches played in Saint Petersburg.
The videos have been posted on YouTube and Tik Tok.
As is customary for big football events, the fans sing, dance and drink together. In some cases, fans mingle and Russians and Finns share a party.
One of the videos show the twinning between fans of Finland and Russia. This is normally one of the most beautiful things in football.
However, in Finland the controversy has arisen because the situation of the coronavirus in Russia is much worse and in recent days there have been many news headlines about Finnish football fans who have tested positive for Covid-19 after traveling to St Petersburg.
A message for Krista Kiuru
Furthermore, in another video, Finnish fans can be heard repeatedly shouting 'Haista vittu, Krista Kiuru', which could be roughly translated as 'Smell the fuck, Krista Kiuru'.
The message is addressed to the Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, who they consider responsible for the restrictions imposed in Finland in the wake of the pandemic.
According to figures published by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), more than 200 Finnish soccer fans have tested positive for coronavirus after traveling to Russia. Another 700 have been quarantined.
