Anders Larsson on the criticism: "Maybe not been so clear to the outside"

During the fifth day of the war, the International Ice Hockey Federation went out and condemned it all.

They announced that Russia and Belarus are excluded from all international ice hockey, both on the men's and junior sides, for the time being.

In recent days, several unions have been on their own initiative and distanced themselves from Russia.

But not the Swedish.

SIF, led by chairman Anders Larsson, has faced harsh criticism for not taking a clear position until tonight and has been questioned for its passivity.

Has followed the criticism

Criticism that Larsson took part in.

- I can understand that and have not least myself follow the reactions and comments in social media, but it must be set and weighed against the possibility of being able to have constructive conversations internally in a trust-inspiring way.

By refraining from some spectacular media statements, one can in another way participate and be constructive in the internal discussions, he says.

- For me and Swedish ice hockey, it has been very important to sit centrally at the negotiating tables when the issues are discussed.

Then we have had to compromise a bit and may not have been so clear to the outside world.

But it has turned out that it went well.

For us, it has been the most important thing to achieve overall results.

You have seen it as a balancing act, aware that criticism may arise, but that you would rather operate at the negotiating table?

- It is a balancing act and of course we have to evaluate afterwards.

There is no doubt that some questions have been raised about Swedish ice hockey and the Swedish Ice Hockey Association actually does.

Are you passive?

But I can at least attest to that to anyone who doubts that we have worked hard and actively, but quite a lot under the surface diplomatically and with private contacts in an effort to create constructive solutions.