MOSCOW, July 9, Andrey Senchenko. Continental Hockey League ( KHL) can do whatever it wants in the matter of international transfers, said the President of the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) Luc Tardif.
On Tuesday, the KHL announced that it will not register new contracts for players who have existing agreements with clubs in other leagues or unfulfilled obligations. The league's press release notes that the KHL will respect the validity of contracts of other championships, and experience with the National Hockey League (NHL) suggests that both parties continue to fulfill their obligations without a signed memorandum. Also, KHL President Alexey Morozov said that the league will remain in the Russian hockey system and will interact directly with the Ministry of Sports, gaining independence from the IIHF and the Russian Hockey Federation (RFH).
«»Our member is the FHR, not the KHL. The disciplinary process is ongoing. The KHL can do what it wants in the future. Russian legislation may change, but what was done with the IIHF rules before is still relevant. No other comments anymore,» — said Tardif.
Previously, in order to transfer a player from a foreign league, KHL clubs had to apply for an IIHF transfer card through the international department of the FHR and the interaction of national federations. After the new version of the Russian Federation Law on Sports comes into force and the regulatory documents of the Ministry of Sports and the KHL are brought into compliance with it, KHL clubs will not require a transfer card for a player’s application.
In 2022, Russian goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov, after winning the Gagarin Cup with CSKA, signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, but was detained at the military registration and enlistment office and sent to a military unit for military service. On July 8, 2023, the KHL registered Fedotov’s new contract with CSKA. The player's agreement with Philadelphia was valid for the 2023/24 season. The IIHF refused to register CSKA's contract with the goalkeeper. The hockey player was disqualified for four months from September 1, 2023, the capital club was banned from international transfers for a year, but the KHL allowed Fedotov to participate in matches. The IIHF Disciplinary Council later rejected CSKA and Fedotov's appeals against the sanction decision. At the end of March 2024, the goalkeeper moved to Philadelphia. Afterwards, the IIHF announced the suspension of Fedotov from all competitions under the auspices of the federation for a period of three years.