Coach Ignatiev said that Russian hockey players have a chance to play for China
The head coach of the Konlun Red Star Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) club and the Chinese national team, Viktor Ignatiev, assessed the chances of Russian players to change their citizenship to Chinese. His words are quoted by TASS.
Ignatiev noted that Russian hockey players can receive a Chinese passport and play for the country’s national team under one condition. “The current policy is that Russians cannot obtain Chinese sports citizenship unless they have Chinese roots,” he explained.
The national teams of Russia and Belarus have been suspended from participation in international competitions since February 28, 2022 by decision of the International Hockey Federation (IIHF).
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Sports announced the total number of athletes who changed their citizenship. “55 athletes in Olympic sports have changed their citizenship, if we take non-Olympic sports, this figure has exceeded 100,” said Deputy Sports Minister Alexei Morozov.
Source: Lenta
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