Austrian Federation denies Innsbruck’s request to play in Italy

13 Mar 2012 | Davide Tuniz

With a blow below the belt, ÖEHV goes back on a January promise.

In January, all was apparently set for Innsbruck joining next year's Italian Serie A. An official request was approved by the Italian Federation and the ÖEHV also gave its blessing to the migration.

But two months later, the situation seems very different: at the Austrian Federation board meeting last Sunday, the Innsbruck request was unanimously rejected with a vote of 10-0.

ÖEHV Vice President Peter Schramm commented on the vote, "The main reason is that we want to have an Austrian Championship and want to keep the clubs in the country."

Innsbruck President Günther Hanschitz reacted to the decision, "Our club wishes to develop upwards, now we have been stopped. For me, it's incomprehensible that a foreign team can play in Austria, both in the National League and EBEL, and yet our request to play abroad is rejected. Red Bull Salzburg played in the Czech U20 League and I haven't found a specific article in federation statute that forbids our initiative. I am also disappointed because during the past meeting in Salzburg, not one of my collegues showed or expressed negative attitudes."

Hanschitz wrote an open letter to the federation explaining again his reasons and asking, "Give us a chance. Even in the interest of Austrian hockey, you should not deny Innsbruck's participation in Italian hockey."