The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Council has referred the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and IIHF Life President René Fasel to the IIHF Ethics Board following potential breaches of the federation’s Ethics Code.
The federation said it’s Council had referred Fasel to the Ethics Board following reports the Swiss hockey official had taken on an advisory role with the Kontinental Hockey League after the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The federation also stated Fasel had been referred to the Ethics Board over “public statements made about the war,” though it wasn’t immediately clear which statements they were referencing.
In an interview with Russian media outlet Championat, Fasel described the then possible ban on Russia and Belarus in ice hockey as a “sad moment in IIHF history.” Fasel commented, “even in such a tense situation as today, sport must carry the message of peace and uniting people.”
His comments came days after Russia initiated its invasion of Ukraine. In the same interview, he stated, “war is never the solution, but we must not use sport as a sanction.”
Fasel also found himself in hot water early last year after meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Fasel, then president of the IIHF, had traveled to the country to discuss the 2021 IIHF Men’s World Championships. His visit came during a time when Lukashenko was under intense criticism for crackdowns on mass protests following an election deemed rigged by the opposition.
Commenting on the meeting, Fasel told Swiss broadcaster SRF, “I am sorry if this led to interpretations that I would accept what is happening in Belarus -- the protests, the repression. We do not accept that.”
Lukashenko’s main opponent in the aforementioned elections, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was critical of the meeting, stating, “Fasel is shaking hands and hugging the dictator. A few miles away from them, people are imprisoned in inhumane conditions as political prisoners.”
The IIHF has not provided a timeline for the Ethics Board’s investigation into Fasel’s recent activity, or hinted at the disciplinary action that could be brought against him should the investigation confirm unethical behavior.
According to the IIHF, its Ethics Code requires a Life President to “conduct themselves in accordance with the principles of dignity, integrity, loyalty and responsibility in all relations of a competitive, economic, social (including social media) and moral nature.”
This criteria is applicable when a Life President is “acting within the scope of his duties for the IIHF or whenever his conduct reflects upon the IIHF or might otherwise undermine the objectives of the IIHF” according to a statement released by the federation.
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation will also be investigated by the Ethics Board following reports it had instructed teams from the KHL to demonstrate in support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Similar to Fasel’s case, no timeline for the investigation was provided, nor were any potential disciplinary measures hinted at. The IIHF stated that neither case required automatic disciplinary action.
In terms of next steps, the federation stated that its independent Ethics Board would decide whether or not to refer either case to the IIHF Disciplinary Board for further review.
There has been no disciplinary action taken against René Fasel or the Russian Ice Hockey Federation.