“Of course, the IIHF is trying to show strength” – Kommersant FM

Russia may be expelled from the International Hockey Federation, the head of the organization, Luc Tardif, made this statement. Further development of the situation depends on the decision of officials in the case of CSKA goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov. From the IIHF’s perspective, he has an active contract with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, and a year of military service does not release the player from his obligations. At the same time, the athlete has obligations to CSKA and, despite the protests of the National Hockey League, he plays for the Russian club. Will the International Hockey Federation decide to completely exclude the Russian Federation from its ranks? And what will happen if this does happen? Kommersant FM sports commentator Vladimir Osipov looked into it.

In the story with Ivan Fedotov, everything is strange, from the unexpected draft into the army to the contract with CSKA, which openly ignored all the goalkeeper’s previous agreements with the NHL club Philadelphia Flyers. It has been dragging on for several years now, but, obviously, our overseas colleagues decided to go all the way and at all costs explain to the KHL representatives who is in charge here.

Of course, they turned to the International Hockey Federation, and here you go, a statement from the head of the organization, Luc Tardif, about the possible expulsion of Russia. It is quite obvious that CSKA is unlikely to pay attention to the official’s rhetoric.

In addition, it may not come to tough decisions, at least in the near future, hockey analyst Igor Larin is sure: “The position of the IIHF is quite sluggish, like the organization itself, unfortunately. At the same time, the Continental Hockey League immediately declared itself very powerfully. In the first seasons there were serious victories when, for example, we brought back Ilya Kovalchuk. Today, unfortunately, times are completely different. Here, in general, two solitudes met – the KHL and the IIHF, whose policies are not clearly expressed, so it is very difficult to give any forecast.”

Meanwhile, such an active participation of the International Hockey Federation in the Fedotov case is, frankly speaking, surprising. After all, in fact, the officials took the side of the NHL – an organization that, firstly, is not part of the IIHF, and, secondly, often ignores this federation. Yes, he ignores, one might say, he doesn’t care, he doesn’t comply with doping rules and regulations for participation in tournaments.

So overseas hockey is a good guide to how you can manage without an international federation. If you follow the path of the National Hockey League, then no one will notice the IIHF sanctions, says hockey expert, ex-arbiter Leonid Weisfeld: “If, for example, we move towards creating a truly independent league, like in the NHL, then this will not have any effect at all. If there are any other considerations, then this decision will probably have some consequences. It all depends on what plans they have for further development.”

By and large, the Russian team does not play in international tournaments anyway, and it is difficult to punish the country even more harshly. And no one can prohibit holding such competitions as the Channel One Cup, where the Russian Federation won the day before. Of course, the IIHF is trying to show strength. The appeal in the Ivan Fedotov case was rejected, and the club’s ban on international transfers remained in force.

But all these decisions can be appealed in court, sports lawyer Artem Patsev emphasizes: “If this verdict was adopted at the level of the International Hockey Federation, then this is its internal disciplinary decision. They are all appealed according to general rules and are not final.”

But no matter how the proceedings in the athlete’s case in the CAS end, the process will not be quick. And certainly all these events will cost the army club a pretty penny. And against the backdrop of such noise, the question of why this whole garden was fenced off for the sake of one player still remains unanswered.

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