René Fasel, the former president of the International Hockey Federation, is saddened that Russia was excluded from international hockey.
According to René Fasel, Russia should not have been excluded from international puck games. AOP
The IIHF announced on Monday that Russia will be excluded from, among other things, the World Hockey Championships for men.
Ex-boss of the International Hockey Federation René Fasel gave to the Russian Championshipto the topic of the interview even before the IIHF’s decision.
– For me, sport is a way to bring people together. Remember the Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin and the Olympic spirit. When de Coubertin revived the Olympics in 1896, he brought people together. That’s the purpose of the sport, Fasel put it, according to the Champion.
Pierre de Coubertin was a French educator and historian known as the founder of the modern Olympics.
During the interview, Fasel also spoke about the Olympic values, respect and friendship, although at the same time Russia is waging an offensive war in Ukraine.
According to the Swiss, athletes should not be penalized for events.
– I am 100% sure that no athlete supports war. This is a really sad day for me, Fasel said.
According to the man, the exclusion of Russia from international hockey is a sad chapter in the history of the IIHF.
– Even during the Cold War, the Soviet Union played against the United States and Canada. Although the tensions are now great, sport should communicate peace and uniting people.
According to Fasel, the IIHF has had several opportunities to exclude countries from international games, as there have been many wars in the world, but it is only for the first time that the hockey alliance has come to such a tough solution.
– It is very sad to hear that people want this.
Finally, Fasel said he understands that people have emotions on the surface, but the sport should still not be “destroyed”.
– If we destroy sports, how do we bring people together again? I am an athlete myself. I have lived during the Cold War, but we still played together even in the most difficult times.
“Politics breaks hockey”
Andrei Kovalenkoan ex-NHL player and an Olympic winner, cannot understand the solution of the IIHF.
– We have been convinced for decades that sport will stay out of politics, but now they are just beautiful words. Politics breaks hockey, Kovalenko regrets Championatin by.
It is clear between the lines that the latest IIHF solution did not come to Kovalenko.
– The bell rang for the first time a year ago, when the World Cup was taken away from Minsk.
Kovalenko also can not comprehend that the goalkeeper legend Dominik Hasek demanded that the NHL throw all Russian players out of the series.
– There are no substitutes in this business To Alexander Ovetshkin, To Yevgeny Malkin, Nikita Kutsherov and Andrei Vasilevsky.
“KHL survives”
With the war started by Russia, the Joker and Dinamo Riga withdrew from the KHL. President of the Ruble League Alexander Medvedev according to it does not harm KHL.
– KHL will survive this situation, and more damage will be done to hockey in Latvia and Finland. The basic principle that sport should be outside politics is now being violated, Medvedev said Championatin by.
The puck boss does not believe that Western solutions will negatively affect the Russian puck.
– I have no doubt that our hockey will continue to develop.
Medvedev also wondered why the IIHF ended up throwing Russia and Belarus out of the hockey championships.
– Perhaps behind this decision is the desire to get France involved in the World Cup.