“This goes beyond the scope of sport,” protested an official from the Israeli Olympic committee in early February, several weeks after the announcement by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to exclude Israel from its international competitions, for “security reasons”.
A decision echoing the conflict currently taking place in the Middle East.
In response, the Israeli Ice Hockey Federation chose, on January 15, to appeal this ban.
Final point of the controversy: last Friday, March 1, the IIHF announced that it would lift the exclusion of Israel from international tournaments.
It is through a long press release of 22 pages, which explains the point of view of Nancy Orr (sole decision-maker since the only member of the disciplinary council), that the governing body indicated that it had heard positively the appeal of the Israeli Football Federation. ice Hockey.
Also read “This goes beyond sport”: the Israeli ice hockey federation furious after its exclusion from the World Championships
A reversal welcomed by the Israeli Ice Hockey Federation.
“A dangerous precedent has been avoided and Israeli ice hockey teams will compete, unconditionally, in all competitions.
» Pillar of the decision rendered by Nancy Orr, status 4 of the IIHF.
“He further maintains that
security
is not more important than
equality
and/or
equal opportunities
,” notes the president of the disciplinary council in her report.
There is no doubt that the IIHF has an obligation to ensure the safety and security of participants in its championships (…) However, it has delegated much, if not all, of this responsibility to the national association host member, through the IIHF Championship Rules.
»
Other points built Nancy Orr's decision, in particular the too long delay between the decision to exclude Israel from international competitions, taken during an internal meeting at the IIHF, on November 29, 2023, and the moment when this decision was made public on January 9, 2024. Between this date, it was impossible for the Israeli Ice Hockey Federation to formulate any appeal;
However, the Israeli U20 ice hockey team was competing for the Junior World Championships from January 22 to 28, 2024 in Bulgaria.
“Ordinary filing deadlines were such that the tournament would be over before the appeal could be heard,” Nancy Orr said in the release.
By an exceptional decision held on January 17, the Israel U20s were finally authorized to play these World Championships - which they won, allowing them to access Division II (the annual Ice Hockey World Championships, operate in ups and downs between six divisions).