Helsinki police use pepper spray against HIFK football fans during unscheduled march

Police in Helsinki deployed pepper spray against supporters of the HIFK football club on Tuesday after the fans attempted to begin their march earlier than agreed, disrupting traffic in the Oulunkylä district, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle.

The incident occurred as HIFK fans were heading to a match against rivals Jokerit. Authorities had coordinated staggered marches for both sets of supporters to prevent clashes, but police stated that HIFK fans moved before the scheduled time. Officers intervened to block any confrontation between the two groups.

Eyewitness accounts from Yle’s visual journalist Jani Saikko, supported by video footage, showed police aiming a device resembling a paintball gun at the fans and discharging yellow gas—later confirmed by police to be OC spray, commonly known as pepper spray. Police initially denied using any projectiles or gas but admitted afterward to deploying the spray as a “warning.”

No injuries were reported, and no arrests were made. Saikko estimated around 150 fans and roughly 20 riot-equipped officers, including mounted police, were present at the scene near a shopping center roundabout in Oulunkylä. Traffic was temporarily halted during the intervention.

Fans were eventually escorted in phases to the Oulunkylä football stadium under police supervision to ensure the rival groups did not cross paths later. Police continued monitoring the situation throughout the event.