​The Ministry of Sports has announced that it is suspending the decision made at the regular general assembly of the Romanian Hockey Federation on September 15.

HockeyPhoto: Sean Berry/AP/Profimedia

The joint verification commission, created by the Ministry of Sports based on the results of the review of complaints to the leadership of the FRKH, established that a number of legislative norms were violated during the organization of the elections, the ministry reported.

Complaints regarding the holding of the AGOA on 15.09.2022 came after a number of other violations in the activities of the federation’s leadership were reported in the past. As a result, the Ministry of Sports created a commission, which in the period from 01 to 04.11.2022 conducted an inspection of the FRHG, during which a number of violations of the following provisions were found: Art. 21 par. (1) and par. (2) lit. c) from Government Resolution no. 26/2000 in conjunction with the provisions of Articles 11.4 and 99.2 of the Statute of the Romanian Ice Hockey Federation.

The main violations recorded in the elections to the Romanian Hockey Federation

  • The Federal Office of the FRHG decided on 15.09.2022 at a meeting that took place immediately before the next general election of the same day, that of the 25 sports structures participating in the 2021-2022 national championship, 12 structures do not have the right to vote.
  • Failure to pay debts “…on the terms and in the order established by the Federation” was cited as the basis for censorship of voting rights, without clarifying the statutory provisions that may deprive a member participating in a competitive calendar of the right to vote.
  • However, from the analysis of accounting sheets and supporting documents, it was stated that on 15.09.2022 only SC MERCUREA CIUC and ASOC. CLUB SPORTIV OLYMPIA PLOIESTI had debts. In addition, the members of the Commission established that the reason for the debt is administrative sanctions, that is, applied fines related to the limitation and countermeasures of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • On the other hand, the Commission established that the members of the Federal Bureau decided on 15.09.2022 that ACS HOCHEI GEORGHENI has the right to vote, although the payment of debts to the federation was not made “…on the terms and under the conditions established by the Federation”, exceeding the deadline payment in 45 days, indicated in the invoices issued by the Romanian Hockey Federation.
  • The participation of a club that did not participate in the competitive season of 2021-2022 in the AGOA was also recorded, which is a violation of the provisions of Art. 11.4 of the FR Hockey Statute.

“Regarding the ministry’s responsibilities in this situation, we note the following:

In accordance with the provisions of Art. 36 par. (1) from HG No. 884/2001, for the approval of the Regulation on the implementation of the provisions of Law no. 69/2000 of physical education and sports, “The delegate of the Ministry of Youth and Sports has the right to suspend the implementation of decisions of the governing body that contradict the charter and statute, contracts concluded with the ministry, laws, public order and national security.”

Last but not least, according to Art. 18, par. 1, summer k) from Law No. 69/2000 on Physical Education and Sports, as amended, the Ministry of Sports “supervises and controls compliance by sports organizations with current legal provisions and provisions contained in their statutes and founding documents.”

In the light of the given facts, the verification commission recognizes that the holding of the next general meeting of the elections of the Romanian Hockey Federation on September 15, 2022 was carried out in violation of the legal and statutory provisions, which led to the suspension of the consequences of the adopted decision,” he added in the Ministry of Sports.

On September 15, Alexandru Heluke (65 years old) was re-elected president of the Romanian Hockey Federation. At the General Assembly elections held in Bucharest, 9 out of 13 clubs with the right to vote voted for Helauke.

His opponent Valentyn Dragomyr got four votes.

Alexander Heluke is a former Stela hockey player, a player of the Romanian national team, with whom he participated in two Winter Olympic Games: Innsbruck 1976 and Lake Placid 1980.

Marius Peun, manager of the hockey section, and Emilian Cernica (Corona Braşov) were elected vice-presidents of the FRHG, News.ro reports.