Sponsors Threaten to Withdraw from World Cup in Belarus 01/18/21
(ATR) The pressure on the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to strip Belarus of co-hosting the men s world championship this year nears a crescendo.
Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko met IIHF president René Fasel on January 11 in Minsk. (Keystone/Nikolai Petrov/Pool)
Main sponsor Skoda is threatening to withdraw if Minsk, Belarus is allowed to remain co-host of the event from May 21 to June 6 with Riga, Latvia. The Czech company, which belongs to the VW Group, made the announcement on Saturday. Sponsor Nivea Men had already announced the same on Friday. On Sunday, Liqui Moly followed suit and also declared that it would end its involvement if the federation stood by its decision.
Franz Reindl (Germany).
Decisions are made by a majority vote, while Secretary General Horst Lichtner (he flew to Minsk with Fasel and supports the World Cup in Belarus) has no vote.
Thus, in order to make a decision, it is necessary to get at least 7 votes out of 13.
Council members who have already spoken publicly about the postponement of the championship
In mid-November, the IIHF heard a report from the expert commission, which noted that it would be extremely difficult to hold the championship in Minsk in the current conditions. The main issue is the safety of the teams and guests of the championship. Experts were also confused by the Belarusian statistics on coronavirus. To put it bluntly, they don t really believe it, which, in particular, the member of the IIHF Council Peter Břiza said.
IIHF head
Rene Fasel told SRF about his visit to Minsk. Tribune writes about this.
- I apologize if that photo is interpreted as my agreement with the events and repressions in Belarus. I must admit: I played with fire in Minsk and got burned. Now it will be difficult to change this opinion.
IIHF Vice-President Kalervo Kummola said earlier that Fasel himself was shocked when photos from his meeting with Lukashenka were leaked to the press.
Recall that during his visit to Minsk, Rene Fasel met with Lukashenka, and then his photo with the possible murderer of Raman Bandarenka Dzmitry Baskau appeared on the Internet.
IIHF President René Fasel has insisted a recent meeting with Belarus
President Alexander Lukashenko was held with "a serious tone" and was
to "open and maintain a constructive dialogue" on this year's Men's
World Championships.
Participation in “dictatorial games” can only harm the reputation of brands.
The Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund sent official letters to all the major partners of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and urged them not to sponsor the 2021 World Cup until the tournament is moved from Belarus, tut.by writes.
In its letters to the strategic partners of the IIHF, the Sports Solidarity Fund explains in detail the reasons that prompted this appeal, talks about reputational risks for brands, asks to study the reaction of the world community to the events taking place in Belarus in recent months, and pay attention to the sanctions already imposed.