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COLOGNE, Germany — The International Ice Hockey Federation, responded publicly for the first time on Friday to a scathing attack two days ago by the IIHF’s chief spokesman on Canadian Olympic hero Sidney Crosby and other top international players, acknowledging that the commentary was “inappropriate.”
“There are many things in the world of hockey that should be discussed, but this column was an inappropriate way to do it, and the timing was also bad,” IIHF president Rene Fasel said in a statement published on the IIHF website.
“I sympathize with the players who were singled out in the column and I understand the frustration of the club owners who felt that their players received unjustified criticism.”
The column, posted on the federation’s website Wednesday and left on even after Fasel personally apologized Thursday to Crosby’s agent, has been removed.
Fasel described the lengthy column by IIHF communications director Szymon Szemberg, who quoted veterans of international hockey in his lengthy column, as “an isolated emotional outburst.”
Szemberg accused North American and European star players on Wednesday of selfishly turning their backs on their teammates, fans and national programs by not participating in the world hockey championship taking place here.
Szemberg, who has not responded to requests for comment from Canwest News Service since Thursday, also questioned the legitimacy of reasons given by players for not showing up.
The comments infuriated players, National Hockey League president Gary Bettman and NHL team owners, raising speculation that it may become harder for players to get permission to play in the annual tournament.
Canadian captain Ray Whitney said the column reflects ignorance of the difficulty facing NHL players such as Crosby who go through a long season, gruelling playoffs, and in 2010 the intense Olympic Games.
IIHF publicly apologizes for player criticism
“There are many things in the world of hockey that should be discussed, but this column was an inappropriate way to do it, and the timing was also bad,” IIHF president Rene Fasel said in a statement published on the IIHF website.
“I sympathize with the players who were singled out in the column and I understand the frustration of the club owners who felt that their players received unjustified criticism.”
The column, posted on the federation’s website Wednesday and left on even after Fasel personally apologized Thursday to Crosby’s agent, has been removed.
Fasel described the lengthy column by IIHF communications director Szymon Szemberg, who quoted veterans of international hockey in his lengthy column, as “an isolated emotional outburst.”
Szemberg accused North American and European star players on Wednesday of selfishly turning their backs on their teammates, fans and national programs by not participating in the world hockey championship taking place here.
Szemberg, who has not responded to requests for comment from Canwest News Service since Thursday, also questioned the legitimacy of reasons given by players for not showing up.
The comments infuriated players, National Hockey League president Gary Bettman and NHL team owners, raising speculation that it may become harder for players to get permission to play in the annual tournament.
Canadian captain Ray Whitney said the column reflects ignorance of the difficulty facing NHL players such as Crosby who go through a long season, gruelling playoffs, and in 2010 the intense Olympic Games.
IIHF publicly apologizes for player criticism