Apology from Finland Women’s National Football Team Manager
The manager of the Finland women’s national football team, Outi Saarinen, has issued an apology after unintentionally selecting a player long since retired for an upcoming match against Serbia. The blunder involved including 51-year-old Stina Ruuskanen in the squad instead of the actual intended player, 23-year-old Nanne Ruuskanen from Djurgarden. This oversight went unnoticed until after the submission deadline.
Stina Ruuskanen’s Lighthearted Response
Stina, who last represented Finland nearly three decades ago and has played only two senior international matches, took the situation lightheartedly.
“I would definitely be prepared if I got called up! I played in a recreational league match just yesterday, so I’m feeling good about my game,”
she commented to Ilta-Sanomat.
Impact on Nanne Ruuskanen
Unfortunately, the younger Ruuskanen, who shares a similar name but is not related, was not able to participate in the UEFA Nations League match that ended in a 1-1 draw in Helsinki. Coach Saarinen addressed the situation, stating that while Nanne felt disappointment at not being part of the lineup, she handled the incident with grace.
“Of course, Nanne was disappointed, but considering the circumstances, she took the news quite well,”
Saarinen expressed, while also adding,
“I sincerely regret the error.”
