Dmitry Svishchev, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, spoke about the appeal of the players of the Russian youth hockey team to the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) with a request to allow the team to participate in the 2025 World Championships. . In an interview vprognoze.ru Svishchev called on the Russian Hockey Federation (RHF) to establish a dialogue with the IIHF.
The parliamentarian touched on the case of CSKA goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov, who was banned from playing in Russia by the IIHF but still continues to play for the army team. Svishchev emphasized that both the club and the Continental Hockey League (KHL) have a clear stance that does not violate international rules. He called on the IIHF to directly state whether this was the reason for the suspension of Russian hockey players.
“And if this is some kind of call to action on our part, then let’s start negotiations. I believe FHR should state its position. If this is really an obstacle to the admission of our athletes to competitions. But it seems to me that this is just another excuse that has nothing to do with the acceptance of our guys.
Our Federation needs to engage in constructive dialogue and accept this response as a call for dialogue. Maybe this could really help,” Svishchev admitted.
In their letter to the IIHF, Russian players reminded that the team was not allowed to finish the tournament canceled due to coronavirus in 2022, and that they were not allowed to participate in the competitions in 2023 and 2024 due to “security issues”. The background of the SVO in Ukraine – this is how the IIHF justified the decision. Hockey players wondered why there was a different attitude towards the Israeli national team, which also witnessed armed conflicts.
former president of the IIHF answered It attracted the attention of Russian hockey players.