In a recent HockeyTrean game in Sweden's fifth-tier league, an incident unfolded that has sparked controversy.
A player, identified as Casper Gilberg, collided with a referee while the official had his back turned.
The aftermath saw the referee being rushed to the hospital with a broken arm, raising eyebrows as the video footage leaves room for questioning the nature of the impact.
Despite the apparent severity of the incident, no penalty was assessed during the game. Gilberg and his coach defended the collision, insisting it was an unintentional accident.
Gilberg, speaking to reporters, claimed frustration with the referee's positioning throughout the game, stating,
"The referee gets in the way, as he did the whole game."
While Gilberg contends that the collision was unavoidable given the circumstances, observers argue that there was an opportunity for him to exercise caution and potentially avoid the official.
The incident has generated discussion within the hockey community, and it's likely that the league will conduct a thorough review to assess the appropriateness of the hit and its consequences.