Arnold Origi: “Very disrespectful”

HIFK goalkeeper Arnold Origi emphasizes that unwarranted speculation or accusations of match manipulation are very harmful and disrespectful to players and the whole sport.

The 36-year-old Kenyan goalkeeper came under speculation on match manipulation by one person on social media after the last match. This person was sport journalist Pekka Holopainen.

- I heard about it from the club and it was very disappointing and found it very disrespectful, Origi says.

- I bear the name Origi and this is a name that's not only mine but a family name. A name that has been built with discipline, honesty, honest hardwork, and integrity. Therefore for it to be mentioned in a thing as serious as betting, gambling or a dishonest act is something that I cannot and will not accept.

Origi thinks this case is one example of “hate speech”.

- In this day and age where internet bullying and trolling is huge due to the incontrolable access to social media and the internet, someone as big as a person who has been awarded as journalist of the year in and holds a high position in country and society that tries it's best to fight such things, should know better.  

- If not the consequences he faces or should face should act and serve as an example to anyone who thinks or feels that it's okay to go out on social media, and hurt the feelings, integrity or the character of a person because they feel powerful behind a keyboard. Such a things shouldn't be allowed in this day and age in the society and the world that we live in.

Origi has played as a professional in Norway from 2007-2018. Now he is playing his second season at HIFK. Origi has also played for a long time for the Kenyan national team.

- I found the comments quite disrespectful not only to me but to the league and every individual involved in this league. Yes we do not earn astronomical salaries in the Veikkausliiga like in the other leagues in Europe or even like our neighbours Sweden, Norway and Denmark, but that doesn't mean that we compromise our integrity and it most definitely doesn't give anyone the right to compromise or question our integrity as participants in the league.

This Twitter-case started after Inter-HIFK game. Origi got two yellow cards. One before the Inter´s penalty and the second after the penalty.

- There are situations that are similar to what happened in the Inter game that happens or have happened in the other leagues where players do earn a lot of money and the league is bigger in status and I have never heard a player been questioned like this. Is it because of what people think that we earn that makes them think that we are desperate and can stoop as low as to the point of compromising our integrity? The leagues integrity should be treated with respect, the players the clubs, the coaches, the referees and everyone that's an directly involved with the Veikkausliiga, their integrity should be respected.

Additional Information:
Markus Juhola / 0505960727 /markus@jpy.fi