Anders Larsson on Hockey Allsvenskan's criticism: "Is democratic"

Hockey All Sweden's leadership is dissatisfied with how the Swedish Ice Hockey Association is governed, and accuses them of acting undemocratic.

However, this is a criticism that Anders Larsson does not agree with.

- Our system in the hockey association is based on the Swedish Sports Federation's (RF) statutes. And it is really about democracy. We have members in the various associations, there is a 51 percent rule if you have companyized the sports activities that then elect its board, which represents at the district meeting which in turn selects representatives to the hockey association's meeting, he tells SVT Sport, and continues:

- So basically we have a democratic model that follows the National Sports Federation. And if you do not follow the purpose and principles of the Sports Federation, you can no longer be there.

The Hockey All-Swede is primarily aimed at the SHL clubs having representation on the Swedish Ice Hockey Association's Board of Directors, unlike, for example, the Hockey All-Swedish and the Hockey League.

- The issue is not new, Hockeyallsvenskan which the league has brought it up on several occasions and a number of associations in several contexts. But it is important to keep the models apart this time. Some are about the four leagues: SHL, Hockeyallsvenskan, SDHL and Hockeyettan. And another about the democratic model, says Larsson, and continues:

- At our union meeting and on our board no league is represented. Without there is an opportunity for the highest leagues on the men's and women's side to elect their representatives. But the whole of hockey Sweden can be found through their district associations. After all, all districts are represented by two people per district at the union meeting.

But for the common man, I can still imagine that it looks like the SHL clubs have more power, since their representatives on the board may still be assumed to convey the views and wishes of the SHL clubs? Do you understand that view?

- Yes, this question is, as I said, not new. Hockeyallsvenskans clubs want to join and many, many others want. That is why we have the system of our districts. If you want to change that, it is our own general meeting that is held every two years that must decide - it is free to our associations to propose such things through their districts.

- But with the model we have now, which hockey Sweden has jointly decided, it looks like this.