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Like on the state visit: Alexander Lukashenko and IIHF boss Rebe Fasel
Photo: Nikolai Petrov / AP
Relief.
Not more.
The decision to take away the Ice Hockey World Championship from Belarus and, with it, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, was overdue.
There couldn't have been any other resolution, but it's late.
Too late.
Much too late.
That the world ice hockey association IIHF hesitated until this Monday to withdraw its showcase world championship from the Lukashenko system, that the association's president René Fasel recently stepped in front of the cameras with a warm hug with the ruler, that the cancellation was "due to security aspects" and was not justified with the terrible human rights situation in Belarus - all of this is not only embarrassing for world ice hockey, it really is, and one should certainly not overuse this word, but use it when it is really appropriate: a shame for the association .
Fasel should go immediately
Fasel has headed the world association since 1994, and it is of course only a footnote that this is also the year in which Alexander Lukashenko took power as President of Belarus.
The 70-year-old Swiss has announced that he will be vacating his post this year.
It would be better if he did it immediately.
To be hugged by Lukashenko first and then to say that he was uncomfortable with the picture that went around the world shows the entire missing backbone of the chairman.
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The ruler and the functionary
Photo: Nikolai Petrov / AP
Reacting later than the International Olympic Committee, which banned Lukashenko from all Olympic activities in December and frozen the funds for Belarus, is quite a feat.
The IOC had also hesitated for months, despite the ongoing protests in Belarus, including and especially by athletes, despite the numerous arrests, despite the rude actions of the security forces against the opposition.
At some point the IOC couldn't help but impose sanctions.
But even then, the ice hockey association stuck to its plans.
And the suspicion that they only reacted because the powerful sponsors threatened to withdraw from the event at the weekend is obvious just because of the proximity of the event.
Suddenly things could happen very quickly, suddenly the decision was "inevitable," as Fasel emphasized.
If the donors get the bailiff out, then the association president will also discover "the increasing political unrest".
more on the subject
IIHF decision: the ice hockey federation withdraws the World Cup from Belarus
Ice hockey boss Fasel regrets hugging Lukashenko: "I'm embarrassed too"
But it would be too easy to blame Fasel for this disaster.
The other members of the IIHF board have also positioned themselves far too cautiously, and this includes the German DEB boss Franz Reindl.
He emphasized that one "totally condemns what is happening in Belarus".
It wasn't enough to rush ahead or to announce that no German team would be sent to Minsk.
He and DEB have, according to Reindl, "a very, very critical and internally clear position."
Why only internally?
Human rights are not internal.
Reindl would like to become Fasel's successor in autumn, that would explain the diplomatic course.
All the more sad for the world of functionaries when you have to step on the quiet when it comes to human rights if you want to make a career in it.
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