The IFF Event Disciplinary Function (EDF) has given a two match suspension to Lukas Joaquin Haugen from Team Norway. The suspension is in connection to an incident in the game against Singapore at the Men’s U19 WFC 2023 on Wednesday 26th April.

The incident under review happened at 58:23 and was not penalised by the referees at the time of the incident. It was the opinion of the IFF Referee Management that Haugen should have received a match penalty for brutal contact, according to Rule 614:12 – When a player or a member of the team staff commits or tries to commit a brutal offence. (909).  

According to the Rules of the Game 2022 (Rule 613:2):  Match penalty shall lead to suspension for the rest of the match and from the following match in the same competition and possible further punishment according to the conditions and routines set by the administrating authority.  In IFF events, the decision on any possible further punishment is taken by the IFF Event Disciplinary Function (EDF). At the Men’s U19 WFC 2023, the EDF is comprised of members of the IFF Administration, MU19 WFC Jury, and MU19 WFC Referee Management. In making their decision, the EDF reviewed the match video and the statement of the Head of Referees of the event.

It was the opinion of the EDF that Lukas Joaquin Haugen clearly made intentional contact with his head against the head of the Singapore player. The decision of the EDF was that Lukas Joaquin Haugen should have been penalised with a Match Penalty, which is an automatic suspension from the next game, and that he should also receive an additional penalty of one game suspension.

The final decision is that Lukas Joaquin Haugen is suspended from his team’s next two (2) games in the competition, which is the match scheduled to be played on Thursday 27th April against Slovenia, and the match on Friday 28th April against Australia.