IIHF releases statement regarding racist incident in UHL game

International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif released a statement on Monday in regards to the racist incident in Sunday's UHL game between Donbass and HK Kremenchuk.

Following a scrum, HK Kremenchuk forward Andrei Deniskin was looking towards Donbass forward Jalen Smereck, who is African-American, and pretended to peel and eat a banana.

A disgusting gesture in the UHL was made towards American Jalen Smereck This is embarrassing and pathetic for hockey. @IIHFHockey needs to step up here. pic.twitter.com/cSqxBKVC4k— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) September 26, 2021

This caused outrage from all corners of the hockey world, and the IIHF put out a statement condemning Deniskin's actions.

Newly-elected IIHF president Luc Tardif said, "The IIHF condemns in the strongest possible terms the actions of Andrei Deniskin. There is no place for such a blatantly racist and unsportsmanlike gesture in our sport and in society. This a direct assault on the ideals and values of our game, and we will ensure that all necessary ethics violation investigations occur to ensure that this behaviour is sanctioned appropriately."

The fact that there is no discipline right away from hockey's governing body is a bit shameful. There is video evidence of the incident occurring, so there shouldn't even be the need for an investigation. Personally, Deniskin should be banned from any IIHF sanctioned league, events, and tournaments for multiple years at least.

Related: ANTHONY DUCLAIR SAYS 'A LOT ON THE LINE' AS OFFICIALS DETERMINE PUNISHMENT FOR RACIST GESTURE IN HOCKEY GAME

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