Sochi player Michal Kristof, who is under a valid contract with a KHL club, took to the ice for a team in Switzerland on Friday, Oct. 18. In its work, the KHL has always adhered to a policy of respecting valid contracts in other leagues and call ...
en.khl.ru
It is dangerous for global hockey what the IIHF has done. De lege lata the IIHF regulations obligate all European clubs to honor the players´ contract with NHL clubs. The NHL is so-called “non-member organization” for IIHF purposes, Of course, the NHL wants their contracts to be respected by all European clubs, so the IIHF included that rule into regulations. But it does not work the other way, “non-member organization” is NOT obligated to honor the players´ contract with Euro club.
The KHL has the same legal status of “non-member organization” for IIHF like the NHL since the current season. The IIHF decision on Krištof has all atributes of illegal decision. The biggest loser is the player who will be sued by Sochi, he will compensate the club.
It is always dangerous when the global organisations (IIHF) ignore the law & their rules. It may lead to the irrelevance of that organisation for their inability to protect its basic principles. For hockey it may lead to a situation when the law & rules are ignored while the clubs & leagues with more money will win with smaller clubs & leagues becoming weaker & poorer. I do not know if you RIgafan want it, but IIHF wants it.