Plyushchev: Russia Could Fully Return in Hockey
Ex-Russia coach Vladimir Plyushchev doubts neutral status suits Russia, citing the Universiade precedent as CAS reviews IIHF's exclusion ruling.
Vladimir Plyushchev, the former Russia national team coach, said he doubts a return to international hockey under a neutral flag would suit Russia, after the Russian Ice Hockey Federation lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against its exclusion from tournaments run by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
"I doubt that admitting our national teams in neutral status would be a positive outcome for us. Russia in neutral status is something unclear. We were admitted to the Universiade with the flag and the anthem. So in hockey there are chances of a full return," Plyushchev said.
Plyushchev made the remarks days after blaming Spartak's coaching council, headed by Boris Mayorov, for the club's 0:1 home defeat to Torpedo in the KHL opener.
The federation's appeal, filed with CAS, challenges the ban on Russian national sides at IIHF-sanctioned events. Plyushchev's comparison points to the Universiade, where Russian athletes competed with flag and anthem intact, as a precedent he believes hockey could still follow rather than accepting the neutral-status model used elsewhere.
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