Ice hockey federation suspends Russian Belarusian teams until further notice
Categories: SPORTS
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on Monday (February 28) suspended Russian and Belarusian teams from its competitions until further notice and revoked Russia`s 2023 World Junior Championship hosting rights. The announcement comes as sporting bodies around the globe move to bar Russian athletes from competing in international events amid Russia’s ongoing military invasion of Ukraine. Belarus has been a key staging area for the invasion.
“Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they defend their country,” The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)said in a statement. “The actions of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin and the support from Belarusian government officials are beyond reprehensible.” The National Hockey League (NHL) suspended ties with its Russian business partners as well on Monday and condemned the invasion in Ukraine, days after Alex Ovechkin, the Russian captain of the Washington Capitals and one of the league’s most prolific goal scorers, called for peace.
“We nevertheless have a duty of care to all of our members and participants and must do all we can to ensure that we are able to operate our events in a safe environment for all teams taking part in The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship program.” Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a ‘special operation’ that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.
The declaration comes as brandishing bodies all over the planet move to banish Russian competitors from contending in worldwide occasions in the midst of Russia's continuous military attack of Ukraine."We were unbelievably stunned to see the pictures that have emerged from Ukraine," The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)President Luc Tardif said in a proclamation.
Both FIFA and UEFA suspended Russian groups from global football. On Monday, the Global Olympic Council's leader board prescribed organizations to prohibit Russian and Belarusian competitors from rivalry. USA Hockey supported the IIHF's choice.
The Public Hockey Association (NHL) suspended attaches with its Russian colleagues too on Monday and censured the attack in Ukraine, days after Alex Ovechkin, the Russian commander of the Washington Capitals and one of the association's most productive objective scorers, called for harmony.
"From this point forward, we are suspending our associations with our colleagues in Russia," the NHL said in a statement. Russia calls its activities in Ukraine a "extraordinary activity" that it says isn't intended to possess an area yet to obliterate its southern neighbor's tactical capacities and catch what it sees as perilous patriots.