Kalervo Kummola knows that Rene Fasel is pro-Russian. In the middle of the war, washing in KHL does not make sense for a Finnish discus thrower.
Kalervo Kummola wonders why his ex-colleague Rene Fasel wants to work in Russia. Pasi Liesimaa
On Thursday, it was confirmed that the former chairman of the International Hockey Federation IIHF Rene Fasel moves to work in Russia. The Swiss boss got the wash from the Eastern League KHL.
Worked with Fasel on the IIHF board for 23 years and knew Fasel for 35 years Kalervo Kummola find the solution strange. Russia is waging an offensive war in Ukraine at its best.
Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russia and the Russians.
– Heh. I don’t know what to comment on, Kummola reacted fresh.
– In these circumstances, to join KHL as a Swiss … I would say quite special.
Kummola, who served as vice-president of the IIHF from 1997 to 2021, had previously heard rumors of Fasel’s Russia plague.
– It took a long time for him to take it (KHL). I asked him. He said he would become a consultant for all sports in Russia. I wish you good luck on your journey.
According to KHL, Fasel is involved in developing the league and solving strategic problems.
The ex-federal boss is known to be very pro-Russia.
– He has been so bad and for many years leaned in that direction. He himself has confessed many times that he loves Russia and the Russians. I don’t know what’s in it then. It’s hard to imagine, Kummola says.
Bias was evident
Kalervo Kummola and Rene Fasel have worked at IIHF since the 1990s. Petteri Paalasmaa
Fasel has met with the president Vladimir Putin many times.
When the IIHF appointed its new chairman Luc Tardifin led to sanctions on Russia, which attacked Ukraine, Fasel criticized the actions and said it was a “gloomy day for the IIHF”.
Fasel is known to admire the way the Russians play. Swiss long-term colleague, IIHF Communications Manager 2001-14 Szymon Szemberg previously told Iltalehti that his enthusiasm for Russia eventually went awry.
– He began to take his Russian sympathy too far, to the point where Russia and Russian affairs received special treatment with the IIHF, Szemberg said.
Kummola also admits that Fasel’s attitude towards Russia was on the agenda at the International Hockey Federation.
– It showed up sometimes. We tried to balance it. To my detriment, it was not visible.
Fasel drove heavily to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He even said publicly in the International Olympic Committee and IIHF he would do his best to host the Sochi Games.
Fasel did not condemn even though the entire Russian women’s hockey national team was involved in Sochi’s doping program.
Rene Fasel has met Vladimir Putin numerous times. AOP