Olympic champion Alexander Kozhevnikov has criticised the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and its head Luc Tardif after the disqualification of Russian goaltender Ivan Fedotov. The Russian representative was outraged that the vice-champion of the 2020 Tokyo Games and his current club, CSKA Moscow, were punished for breaching their contractual obligations to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Kozhevnikov said this in a commentary to the propaganda TV channel Russia Today. The winner of the 1984 and 1988 IIHF World Championships accused the IIHF and Tardif of being unautonomous in their decisions, and added with pathos that many countries are taking revenge on Russia for its "numerous victories".

"This is pure lawlessness. The head of the IIHF, Luke Tardif, issued the disqualification under pressure. He makes some strange decisions all the time. Prostitution. Unfortunately, the Frenchman is not an independent figure and consults with his superiors. And the Swedes and Finns hate Russia for its many victories and do not miss an opportunity to put a spoke in the wheel. We are talking about political pressure. They will constantly do such meanness," Kozhevnikov said.

It is worth noting that Fedotov was disqualified for signing a contract with CSKA Moscow while having an existing agreement with Philadelphia, with whom the Russian national team goaltender had agreed to transfer in May 2022. The following month, the hockey player was detained and forcibly conscripted into the Russian army.

It is believed that the athlete was specially sent to the Russian Armed Forces to prevent him from joining an NHL club. At the same time, CSKA Moscow signed a parallel deal with Ivan.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, two-time Olympic champion Vyacheslav Fetisov threw a real tantrum over Ivan Fedotov's disqualification, calling for the IIHF's decision to be "shoved in one place". And coach Gennady Kurdin complained that the IIHF does not consider Russians to be human beings.

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