Details of the incident with Russian hockey players on the flight have become known

The Finnish youth ice hockey team could also be removed from the Calgary-Frankfurt flight, which happened to athletes from Russia and the Czech Republic. This was reported on January 1 by “Sport-Express”.

Earlier on Saturday, it became known that the players of the youth teams of Russia and the Czech Republic were not allowed to fly from Calgary to Frankfurt. Journalist Marie Lehmann, who was on the same plane with the hockey players, said that some players, as well as representatives of both teams, allegedly refused to wear masks, were drunk and smoked.

“Sport-Express” notes that two more teams, Finland and Sweden, were to fly on the plane. However, representatives of the airline took all four teams out of the plane after incidents involving smoking and alcohol. At the same time, it was later decided to allow the Finns and Swedes to the flight, but not the Russians and Czechs.

However, the Izvestia source assured that the main claims were brought against the Czech side. At the same time, another interlocutor clarified that the players of the Russian youth hockey team were removed from the flight due to a violation of the rules by the head coach of the team, Sergei Zubov.

Zubov himself noted that the reason for the removal from the flight was the lack of masks. The Canadian airport has very strict rules, he said.

At the same time, Otakar Cerny, manager of the Czech youth national ice hockey team, said that alcohol probably played a role in the incident. He clarified that one of the members of the Russian national team even smoked in the tunnel before boarding the plane.

The World Youth Championship began in Canada on December 26 and was scheduled to end on January 6. However, on December 29, it became known that the competition was canceled due to outbreaks of coronavirus in several teams, including the Russian one.

On December 30, the President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Luc Tardiff, suggested holding the tournament in June or July. He stressed that the issue of holding MFM-2022 is important for young players, for their career, as well as for fans.