Fasel: "We will not be able to host the World Cup in Switzerland"

17 Mar 2020 | Davide Tuniz

IIHF President virtually put an end to hopes to see the next World Championship played

IIHF President Rene Fasel told that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, there is practically no doubt about the impossibility of holding the 2020 World Championship in Switzerland, but the option to postpone the tournament is not considered.

“At the moment we are assessing the situation together with insurance companies and the Swiss authorities, we understand that it is necessary to fulfill contractual obligations. We will make a decision very soon. I can say for sure that we will not postpone the World Championship, as UEFA did with Euro Cup 2020. We’ll definitely not postpone the championship from Switzerland, because the problem of coronavirus is everywhere, there is no point in postponing the tournament. I have practically no doubt that we will not be able to host the championship in Switzerland, it’s very sad"- said Fasel to RIA Novosti news agency

The 2020 World Hockey Championship is due to take place May 8-24 in Switzerland. On March 13, Swiss authorities banned events involving over 100 people until April 30. A number of Swiss cantons at the same time reduced the number of possible participants in the events to 50 people.

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