2024-05-29 07:13:53
Russia has not performed within the World Cup thrice in a row, but it’s rising on the earth rankings. It could even be the primary in a yr. The IIHF hockey federation, which precipitated the paradoxical state of affairs, is now deciding whether or not it’s honest to different international locations.
After the golden marketing campaign, the Czech Republic shot from eighth place to fourth, between Finland and Switzerland. Nobody has made a extra vital shift.
Nevertheless, essentially the most exceptional is the case of the Russian nationwide workforce, which jumped from third place to second place, even though because the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has had a stoppage in worldwide hockey and solely performs unofficial matches towards Belarus or Kazakhstan.
“Is that this a joke?” the Finnish each day Ilta-Sanomat responded to the event.
Canada continues to carry first place, but when it doesn’t win a medal on the subsequent championship, it is going to be changed by Russia.
The weird state of affairs was brought on by the IIHF itself, because it routinely awards factors to the Jap powers primarily based on their place earlier than the talked about cease, i.e. third place. This yr, the Russians collected 1,520 factors, the identical as bronze medalist Sweden.
The outcomes from the final 5 main tournaments, which embrace the World Championship and the Olympics, are included within the rating. The newest location at all times has a 100% worth, the significance of others progressively decreases to solely 1 / 4.
Due to this fact, an absent Russia not solely doesn’t fall, however can rise.
“It appears a bit comical,” acknowledged Finnish hockey head and IIHF Council member Heikki Hietanen in a press release to the Yle station.
Prior to now, there was a suggestion that the suspended workforce would begin in a decrease division after returning to the hockey group, just like the Slovaks after the division of Czechoslovakia, however ultimately the present answer prevailed. Russia holds excessive among the many elite, permitting him to at some point choose up the place he left off.
“However we’ll talk about this subject once more. Generally, we take into consideration whether or not the present state of affairs is honest for different international locations,” Hietanen stated, referring to the motion of the choir within the rating.
“We have been taking part in with out Russia for a number of years now. Is it honest that it nonetheless will get the factors it as soon as did?” he requested.
For instance, the previous long-time vice-president of the IIHF, Kalervo Kummola, considers the rise of the workforce to be “so ridiculous that maybe it could be higher to cancel the whole rating”.
Nevertheless, the official rating of hockey international locations is essential for a number of causes. For instance, in response to him, teams are being created for the following World Cup.
It additionally decides on Olympic participation. Among the many males, the highest eight states have a sure place. The others must combat for the remaining three to 4 tickets in a demanding qualification. For the upcoming Olympics in Italy, this is applicable, for instance, to the Slovaks, who on the flip of August and September must win a gaggle with Kazakhstan, Austria and Hungary at dwelling.
In accordance with Hietanen, the rating works nicely.
“There is not any want to alter his system. We’re simply discussing whether or not we must always do one thing about Russia’s scoring when it is inflicting comical conditions. No determination has been made but,” the official famous.
It’s sure that Russia and their ally Belarus won’t play on the subsequent World Championship both, because the IIHF prolonged their ban for a yr a number of months in the past for safety causes.