The key facts

  • On October 30, Petr Macinka called Russian hockey players 'man-like' in the context of the national team's possible participation in the junior world championship in Ostrava
  • Vyacheslav Fetisov called the remarks 'outrageous' and mockery of the female athletes
  • Fetisov said the IOC and CAS are not playing the leading roles intended for them in the sports world

Fetisov's reaction to the Czech minister's statement

Two-time Olympic champion and three-time Stanley Cup winner Vyacheslav Fetisov sharply responded to remarks made by Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka about Russian women's hockey players, reports Gazeta.Ru. Fetisov called the minister's words 'outrageous' and said that the head of the Czech Foreign Ministry was mocking the Russian national team's hockey players.

The essence of the conflict

The trigger for the reaction was Macinka's statement on October 30: while discussing the possible participation of the Russian national team in the junior women's world championship in Ostrava, he called the Russian hockey players 'man-like,' noting that the tournament would lose nothing from their absence.

Criticism of sports institutions and the NHL example

In connection with Macinka's words, Fetisov noted that the International Olympic Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) are not playing the leading roles intended for them in the sports world. He also urged attention to the situation in the National Hockey League, where, according to him, hockey players from Russia, other European countries, and North America stand side by side without any problems, and said such 'stupid statements' should not be made.