KHL allowed CSKA goalkeeper Fedotov to play despite IIHF suspension

The head of the Continental Hockey League (KHL), Alexei Morozov, announced the admission of CSKA goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov to matches, despite the decision of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to disqualify him. August 28 Mr. Morozov saidthat the hockey player will not be allowed to play CSKA against Ak Bars on September 1.

“The CSKA team applied and included Fedotov for the match. The KHL has accepted the application, Fedotov will play today. The KHL and CSKA do not agree with the decision of the IIHF, which infringes on the rights of the Russians to work. We live by the laws of the Russian Federation. We do not violate IIHF norms, we continue our transfer policy. The decision to enter Fedotov will not lead to bad relations between the FHR and the IIHF. Fedotov will be available to play in the KHL until December 31,” Mr. Morozov told reporters (quoted from “RIA News”).

In 2022, Ivan Fedotov, after winning the Gagarin Cup as part of CSKA, signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers club, but then the goalkeeper was detained at the military enlistment office and sent to a military unit for military service.

In the summer of 2023, after the end of his service, Fedotov stated that he wanted to continue playing for CSKA. On July 8, 2023, the KHL registered a new contract with CSKA. The National Hockey League and Philadelphia have insisted that the hockey player’s 2022 agreement should be valid in the 2023-24 season.

IIHF imposed sanctions on Ivan Fedotov and allowed him to play for CSKA only from January 1, 2024. He was also suspended for four months, and CSKA was banned from international transfers for a year.

CSKA filed an appeal against this decision. CSKA head coach Sergei Fedorov arguedthat Fedotov will be able to play in the KHL championship against Ak Bars in Moscow on September 1. CSKA will play against Ak Bars Kazan as part of the KHL Opening Cup match. Fedotov announced for the game.

Ivan Fedotov is 26 years old. As part of the Russian national team, he became the silver medalist of the Beijing Olympics.

More details – in the publication “Kommersant” “The contract is not written for the goalkeeper”.

Olesya Pavlenko