The scandals began even before the meeting of representatives of Russian hockey clubs, which took place at the Luzhniki Grand Arena. Several journalists failed to attend the press conference. The press service argued that the applications for accreditation were sent too late.
“There should be order in everything,” said Vladimir Gerasimov, press attaché.
It was rather strange to hear about the order from people who changed the approved rules three times this summer and twice the calendar of the Russian championship, until the last moment without knowing how many clubs will take part in the tournament.
The president of the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv Yuri Yakovlev, who was a little late for the event, was full of pessimism.
- What do I expect from the meeting? He asked, and thought for a long time, as if betraying an unwillingness to rush somewhere. - Yes, I’m not expecting anything.
While the meeting was ongoing, the head of the judging committee, Alexander Barinov, appeared on the street. He called someone and screamed terribly.
“So far, everything is normal with refereeing this year,” he said cheerfully and spat three times over his shoulder (we have to rely on the judges, only a miracle - A.Sh.) - So far, clubs have only two small claims. But there will be scandals.
- Why? - the journalists were surprised.
“But because they always happen,” he simply explained. And then he reported sensational news. - Starting next year, there will be two main referees in the championship of Russia.
- What is the reason?
“But people do not have time,” the head of the committee explained. - Here is our best referee Vyacheslav Bulanov already exhausted by the end of the period.
- Is getting old?
- Not. The point is different. The class of the game is low, a lot of mistakes. Teams "cut off" one another. And you have to rush after them around the site. It is necessary to reduce the league, not increase. 14 teams are enough ...
Of course, no one will reduce the league. Vladislav Tretyak wants to please everyone. So, probably, next season Spartak will also get an illegal place in the elite (and A.Sh. should start in the top league). Strange decisions will not stop.
Having sat for a little over an hour, the club leaders came out a little dumbfounded.
“And why, we sat normally,” summed up one of them, wishing to remain anonymous. - The weather is nice, people are nice. What do you think? I did not understand this.
The situation was clarified by the general director of HC CSKA Kirill Fastovsky:
“It was decided that the Professional Hockey League NP would reappear in Russia,” he tried to explain very clearly. - It was headed by Nikolai Uryupin.
“But the PCL was dispersed,” knowledgeable people were surprised.
- And now they decided to collect again. Super League and Major League clubs will jointly make some decisions and give advice to the federation.
- What for?
- So it is.
Yuri Yakovlev seemed to emphasize with all appearance: I warned that nothing good would come of it.
“We decided to recreate the PHL,” he said. “But I don’t know why.” Ask these questions to the Tretiak. But actually the patience of the clubs will end soon ...
“Everyone understands that Russian hockey is collapsing,” Yakovlev continued sadly. “But not everyone has the courage to say so openly.” But nothing, sooner or later all this will stop. I would like to soon.
The remaining leaders of the elite-level teams commented on the situation in a similar vein. You might think that Vladislav Tretyak, having recreated the PHL, shared with the clubs the powers that he had taken away after his arrival. However, in reality this is not entirely true. The new body has no weight, and can only give recommendations to the federation. But only the FHR has the right to vote. In other words, everything remains the same.
Fatigue from the ill-conceived actions of Vladislav Tretyak reached a peak. It came to the universal wishes of failure Vyacheslav Bykov, who will lead the team at the World Cup.
“Bulls are a wonderful person,” says the head of one of the Super League teams. “No one wishes him harm.” But only if the team fails at a tournament in Moscow, can the Tretyak leave the leadership of Russian hockey. And Bykov should understand this and work with the team further, in the next tournament. ”
Vladislav Tretyak, on the contrary, believes that everything is normal now. At his press conference, he said several times that a “constructive dialogue” had taken place. The Komsomol beginning cannot be corrupted by anything.
Alexey Shevchenko