Both the Swiss and Latvian ice hockey federations issued a press release on Saturday demanding that the IIHF immediately exclude the Russian and Belarusian ice hockey federations, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Both Switzerland and Latvia also want all influential officials from Russia and Belarus to be stripped of their positions in the IIHF.
Since the Russian invasion, the IIHF has made a brief statement on its website condemning the events in Ukraine and calling for the conflict to be resolved.
Only tomorrow, Monday, will the IIHF board meet for an extra meeting regarding the current situation.
"Sympathizes with the Ukrainian people"
When TT reaches the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation's chairman, Anders Larsson, and asks if Sweden is one of the federations behind Switzerland and Latvia's statement, he answers in a text message:
"Swedish ice hockey takes the terrible situation in Ukraine very seriously and sympathizes with the Ukrainian people.
We work actively to create conditions for joint hockey decisions and approaches that win broad support among the national ice hockey federation and the IIHF ”.
"Tomorrow Monday, several international meetings are planned and tomorrow evening the IIHF Council (the board) will hold an extra meeting, and there I am one of the members.
I am happy to tell you more tomorrow night when the meetings have taken place and the decisions have been made ".
Awaiting comment
But you do not want to comment on whether Sweden is with Switzerland and Latvia, to exclude Russia and Belarus as members of the IIHF?
“As I said, we in Swedish ice hockey work actively in international ice hockey to create conditions for decisions and approaches that can win broad support.
We have a clear compass when it comes to human rights and we do not give in to that in the internal discussions ”.
"Tomorrow Monday, a number of important meetings will be held, especially the meeting of the IIHF Council (the board) tomorrow evening.
I think it would be unwise of me to make various media appearances barely a day before the decisions are made, so I will wait with further comments until tomorrow's meetings are ready and the decisions are made ”.