The Ukrainian flag was not permitted in the auditorium by the IIHF.
The ticket for Ukraine is not valid for the World Hockey Championships.
When Czech fans took the Ukrainian flag to the stands in the Czech-Latvian encounter last Thursday, the International Hockey Federation IIHF decided and made its position quite clear.
The Czechs wished to show their solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The stewards interfered and tore down the blue-yellow flag after barely five minutes in the stands.
Sport.cz, a Czech sports website, interviewed a Czech fan in Tampere. Lumir Bednaria, who was intrigued by the situation.
“No explanation was given to us.” “We weren’t sure what to make of it,” Bednar told the website.
“In March, the flags of Ukraine were displayed at a football match in Stockholm between the Czech Republic and Sweden (ed. note: the World Cup qualification match on March 24), and no one seemed to mind. The race’s organizers expressed their concerns (in Tampere). “Bednar shook for no apparent reason.
The IIHF was questioned by the Evening News as to why the Ukrainian flag was not permitted at the World Championships at Nokia-Arena.
The IIHF’s communications manager responded, “The arena rules indicate that only the flags of the countries participating in the competition may be shown in the stadium.” E-mail to Adam Steiss
Ukraine is not participating in the Games.
“Fans are not allowed to promote political statements at IIHF events,” Steiss stated.
The race organizers were humiliated when the Ukrainian flag was taken down. Despite political and disrespectful inscriptions related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the events of the spring of 1968 in Prague, the Czech flags next door were allowed to remain.
Steiss acknowledged his error.
“These Czech flags, which had political statements, should also have been removed,” he argued, citing the rules.
In Tampere, Czech supporters had a great time. Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva photo
Fans in Czech did not put their fingers in their mouths. At Monday’s United States match, they showed their creativity by bringing a new white flag to the stands.
The top of the flag was written “blue” and the bottom was written “yellow.” Read “Imagine” in between.
Bednar, a Czech fan, informed the Czech press that Finnish law enforcement authorities had now understood them.
“When we spoke to them and regular Finns in the arena hallway, they witnessed Russian hostility the same way we did,” Bednar added.
“Yes, we recognize that during matches, race organizers must adhere to the rules.”
In the auditorium, World Cup Secretary-General Heikki Hietanen, like Steiss, outlined political messages.
Hietanen said shortly, “We don’t want political remarks.”
“Law enforcement officials are trained professionals who are familiar with the rules. They take action.”
Because of Russia’s hostility, the Tampere and Helsinki World Championships were boycotted by Russia and its ally Belarus. Countries are not permitted to play international hockey in any capacity.
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