IIHF banned goalkeeper Fedotov from playing for CSKA

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has banned goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov, who was drafted into the Russian army last year, preventing his departure to the NHL club “Philadelphia Flyers” from playing for CSKA Moscow. Restrictions are also imposed on the Russian club.

The organization’s decision was announced on August 14. The international organization believes that the hockey player has a valid contract with “Philadelphia”, and this makes it impossible for him to perform for CSKA.

The goalkeeper of the Russian national team and CSKA Ivan Fedotov signed a contract with “Philadelphia” last May. On July 1, 2022, Fedotov was detained by law enforcement agencies in St. Petersburg on July 1 and taken to the military enlistment office. He was accused of evading the call for conscription in the army. At the military enlistment office, Fedotov became ill, he was transferred to a naval hospital for examination, from where he was taken to an unknown destination on the night of Saturday to Sunday. Later it became known that he was transferred to a military unit and began serving in the Russian Navy. In July of this year, he completed his military service and signed a new contract with CSKA.

“Philadelphia” declares that the hockey player’s contract with the club continues to operate. IIHF took this point of view. According to the organization, Fedotov was supposed to either go to the USA or agree to terminate the contract with “Philadelphia”, but he did neither.

The hockey player was disqualified for four months, and the CSKA club was banned from international transfers for one season.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the IIHF banned the Russian national team from participating in the competition. CSKA participates in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) championship – in addition to Russian teams, teams from Belarus, Kazakhstan and China now play in it.

Russian mass media note that CSKA can ignore the IIHF decision if it fails to challenge it. In particular, former hockey player, member of the State Duma Vyacheslav Fetysov called for such a step. What consequences this may have for the club and the KHL is not yet clear.