“In football, we manage to maintain a dialogue with UEFA by organizing international tournaments and participating in them ourselves” – Medvedev on the “Fedotov case”

Chairman of the Board of Directors S.K.A. and Chairman of the BoardZenith » Alexander Medvedev told it’s hard to predict how hockey will end Ivan Fedotov ”, However, he noted that in football, Russia manages to maintain a dialogue with UEFA even in a difficult political situation.

On August 14, the IIHF ruled that goalkeeper Fedotov was suspended from September 1 until the end of 2023. Where CSKA since August 11, he has been deprived of the right to make international transfers for a year. Restrictions were imposed on Fedotov and the club due to the goalkeeper’s contract history. He signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow and a one-year contract with the Philadelphia NHL. CSKA President Igor Esmantovich insists that Fedotov will be able to participate in the military club’s bid on September 1 for the KHL Championship Cup opener against Ak Bars.

As learned, the Russian Hockey Federation (FHR) challenged the decision of the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) regarding sanctions against Ivan Fedotov and CSKA, as well as the KHL and the FHR club, used the services of a Western law firm.

– Our hockey always excites the Fedotov case. If he enters the CSKA team on September 1 for the match against Ak Bars, what awaits us – the armageddon of hockey, or will it cost?

– The situation is extremely unpleasant since the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has suspended us from participating in the world championships. In general, team sports should serve to build bridges between countries and peoples, to work for the cause of peace and friendship between peoples. But we are confronted with the fact that the IIHF tells us, contrary to its charter: “We fired you not for political reasons, but for your own safety”.

But that’s an excuse, and we understand why they did it that way. However, in football, we manage to maintain a dialogue with UEFA by hosting and participating in international competitions ourselves. Our boys play with guys from England, Poland, and there are no conflicts there. I say this with authority because I am in control. The guys calmly communicated with each other, giving hope that the historical truth will nevertheless triumph, reaching the ears and minds of everyone who has played and will play with us.

It is difficult to predict how the “Fedotov affair” will end. There were and are various options for the development of the situation. I will not say how this problem could be solved. It is clear that we live in a difficult moment which requires dialogue. But at some point, hockey players like Ilya Kovalchuk, Vyacheslav Voynov and Vadim Shipachev stopped their NHL careers. And that didn’t stop them from getting into the NHL. If they decided to come back, most NHL clubs would support him.

I don’t know all the details, and it’s better to ask CSKA President Igor Esmantovich a question. But I remain optimistic about the return of world sport,” Medvedev told .