Swedish third division defender Casper Gillberg has received a suspension of more than a year for deliberately obstructing a referee.
The circuit, Hockeyettan, announced Tuesday that the skater from Vita Hästen’s training will not be able to put his skates back on before December 31, 2024.
• Read also: In Sweden: a hockey player intentionally injures a referee
Three days earlier, Gillberg intentionally checked a referee during a match. The official broke his arm during the sequence.
Hockeyettan decision-makers said in their report that the 22-year-old “displayed complete indifference to the safety of the referee when he chose, with reckless force, to tackle him.”
They also took into account that Gillberg is a repeat offender, having served a six-week suspension this past season.
After the meeting where he committed his action, the guard claimed that the contact was accidental. However, he did not fail to mention in the same breath that the referee represented an obstacle all evening.
“It’s the series finale and everyone is excited to be here, me first and foremost,” he said. I like to play physical. The referee was in the way, as he was during the entire confrontation. I had to stop their player and the official was there. He received the check, even though that wasn’t my intention, obviously.”
Gillberg recanted the following day, saying he now “deeply regrets” his actions and is “ashamed” of it.