The National Hockey League (NHL) has called on the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to take all necessary measures to ensure that the Israeli national team is allowed to participate in international tournaments again. The relevant statement was published on: official website Leagues.
“We call on the IIHF to take all necessary steps to resolve the issue as quickly as possible so that Israeli national teams are not unfairly excluded from future competitions for which they are eligible and qualified,” the statement said.
On January 11, 2023, the IIHF Council suspended the Israeli team from international tournaments in order to ensure the safety of participants. Print Report reportedOn the Israeli side, there are suspicions that Russian Pavel Bure, who is on the IIHF council, is linked to the suspension of the national team. And this decision is revenge for Russia’s exclusion from international competitions due to SVO.
In the spring of 2022, the International Hockey Federation decided to ban Russian players from participating in international tournaments, even with neutral status, and the organization also stripped Russia of the right to host the youth world championship at home in 2023.
Formerly in the State Duma Reacted On Israel’s suspicions that Russia had a hand in removing the national team.