The representatives of HC Košice officially respond to the events, which took place during the match Dukla Trenčín – HC Košice

ADDED: 3.2.2018

HC Košice holds a protest against the events, which took place during yesterday's top Slovak hockey competition match of Dukla Trenčín – HC Košice. It's deplorable, that an excellent hockey match of high sport quality and social value, to which the players of both teams contributed, was damaged due to the failure of the organizational team of the hosting club, whose members failed utterly in organizing the match. It's inadmissible that the ice is cluttered up with bottles and other objects, that the players and coaches of Košice are offended, attacked and thrown water on, and even attacked besides from the ice rink. Therefore, we call upon the responsible bodies to do deal with this situation, as well as the hosting clubs to prepare responsibly to resolve such problems.

HC Košice gives its opinion also on the dissatisfactory performance of the referees during the 2017/2018 season, including the yesterday's match. It is inadmissible, that the referees ruin and depreciate by their performances the sports aspect of many outstanding matches, such as HC Košice – HC´05 Banská Bystrica, or the yesterday's duel Dukla Trenčín – HC Košice. Therefore, we call upon the responsible bodies to deal with each known case of breaking the rules on the part of the referees, which did or could influence the results of the matches, irrespectively of getting or not getting official complaint. It is inadmissible, that the referees award a non-valid goal or do not award a valid one, that they penalize a player who did not foul, or do not penalize a player who did obviously foul, when the breaking of the rule is evident, and the referees operate in conflict with the rules, from the reasons, which are unknown to the public. Moreover, as far as fair sports behavior is considered, it is unacceptable that the referee changes their incorrect verdict, after the player concerned fairly admits that they were not fouled, as it happened in the yesterday's match. We highly appreciate the good manners of Branko Radivojevič, who admitted to the referees, that he had not been fouled, but despite that, the referee Jonák willfully, and for no reason penalized our player with the aim to harm HC Košice.

HC Košice has always honored its opponent, respected their qualities and we have always been able to accept any defeat with humility. But from now on, we won't only stand by and look on the unfair practices, which has spread among the top ice hockey competition and we will deal with this problem with a full sense of responsibility and seriousness.

HC Košice