1. Hockey is not important today, but it’s important to show the connections between the KHL and the Kremlin, Putin and his cronies. (Picture: CSKA Moscow vow loyalty, "Putin - our President" on second day of invasion of Ukraine.) > 
2. There has probably never been a league that has been more of a geopolitical project than a sports organization, than the case is with the KHL. This is why the sanctions against Russian hockey are even more valid than in other sports. >
3. When the KHL was planned, the people behind it had good intentions; first and foremost, to make the Russian league so attractive that young Russians would have more incentive to stay than leaving early for the NHL. >
4. But very soon it became a geopolitical project. The dream was to create the “NHL of the east” and snatch away clubs from other European leagues. Slava Fetisov said: “What took the NHL 100 years, we will create in 100 days.” >
5. Despite striking a very patriotic tone, the KHL basically copied the entire NHL structure, initially even including a draft until someone asked: “Why do we need a draft?”. Nobody could answer and the irrelevant draft was dropped after some years. >
6. The KHL exposed Russia’s incredibly contradictory relation to the “morally decadent” west; On one hand nationalistic and patriotic, on the other desperate for west’s respect, approval and the desire to be like the west / NHL. >
7. The KHL encouraged and gladly glorified fighting on its platforms, sending the message “Look, not only the NHLers can fight, our boys can fight too.” >
8. The league never made any economic sense. Basically, all activity was paid for by oil and gas money, or by regional governments. The hockey related revenue was probably never more than 10% of the KHL’s total income. Rest was outside money. >
9. For this “business model” you need total political support and funding from Putin’s cronies. The league became the opportunity for some Russia’s richest to appease Putin and to gain public prestige. >
10. If you look up US-EU list of sanctioned Russians, several of them have direct or close links to the KHL or to one of the clubs.
11. The league – backed by Putin and his dear friend, former IIHF President René Fasel – is literally falling apart before our very eyes as foreign clubs and players are leaving. >
12. In the long run, this is the best that can happen to Russian hockey. Real hockey people must rescue Russian club hockey, but also the national team, from those who hijacked it for personal benefits or/and to be close to Putin.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
