Alexander Stubb was not satisfied by Luc Tardif’s phrases.
Finland former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb harshly criticized the president of the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation IIHF Luc Tardifin statements concerning Russia’s return to worldwide ice hockey competitions.
Tardif, who was on a go to to Helsinki on Tuesday, emphasised that the attainable return of Russia and Belarus to worldwide hockey shouldn’t be as a result of ethical or political causes.
“We don’t let political stress affect our choices. We’ve to make choices outdoors of ethical points. We set up hockey occasions, we don’t remedy the world’s issues,” Tardif mentioned.
Stubb was unimpressed by Tardif’s feedback.
“I’m not significantly impressed by the IIHF president’s statements in Helsinki at this time. A transparent lack of know-how of the hyperlink between politics and sports activities,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Statements you think about to be ‘protected’ find yourself wanting ‘immoral’. Russia is out so long as it’s in Ukraine,” the Finnish politician continued.
Russia and Belarus have been banned from worldwide hockey in February of final 12 months. Nevertheless, Tardif has acknowledged on a number of events that he desires Russia and Belarus again as shortly as attainable.
He mentioned on Monday that returning whereas the struggle in Ukraine was nonetheless occurring can be troublesome, however not utterly not possible.
“I wouldn’t say not possible, however I don’t know the way it might be attainable. Touring within the present scenario is troublesome. When the struggle is on, gamers from Russia and Belarus can not journey. That will be a giant downside,” Tardif mentioned.
