The ice hockey boss told the Russian news media that the games could not be moved out of Russia.
Luc Tardif was elected president of the IIFH last year. Jaakko Stenroos / AOP
President of the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF Luc Tardif told the Russian state-owned news agency Tassi that moving the Ice Hockey World Cup away from Russia was the only right solution.
Both the under-20 and men’s World Cups were supposed to be played in Russia in 2023, but the war in Ukraine and the closure of Russia from international sports activities moved the games elsewhere. The next men’s World Championships will be held in Tampere and Riga.
– I understand that you will not become popular in Russia when you move the games away from there. It is impossible to organize the games in Omsk and Novosibirsk, so our solution was right.
After this, the French Tardif threw a small receipt to his predecessor Rene Faselin in the direction of. This was the president of the IIHF for 27 years and during that time he did not hide his very warm attachment to Russia. Fasel also belongs to the president Vladimir Putin to supporters.
– You must have discussed the topic with Rene Fasel, because I know that Russia likes him. But I have been elected to this position, and it is my job to ensure that the safety of players, organizers or fans is not threatened.
Tardif says that the IIHF has not closed connections to Russia or Belarus. The puck boss would hope to see both countries one more day in prestigious tournaments, but the wounds inflicted in Ukraine may require years of healing.
– Everyone wants Russia and Belarus to return to the World Cup tournaments. We regularly talk with the countries’ hockey federations, we plan meetings together and they can vote. Pavel Bure (representative of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and member of the IIHF Council) participates in the Council’s discussions, Tardif says, according to Tass.
In September, Tardif said that Russia is not losing its place in the A level of the World Cup. However, the fight continues, and there are no signs of its end in sight.
– We are going one year at a time in this matter, Tardif recently commented in an interview with TSN.
Rene Fasel belongs to Vladimir Putin’s circle of friends. EPA / AOP