The missed too-many-men call everyone replayed in Canada–Czechia drew a response from the IIHF
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An official response has come from the IIHF on the blown “too-many-men” call that almost cost Canada a medal shot.
The IIHF, the governing body of the Olympics, has spoken on the missed call by it’s referees in Wednesday’s game between Canada and Czechia in an apparently evident too-many-men penalty.
Ondrej Palat scored to put the Czech team up 3-2, with it being noticed by fans that Czechia had six skaters on the ice, something noticed by neither the officials nor the Canadians in play and on the team bench.
Canada’s roster, clearly unhappy with the missed call, expressed dissatisfaction with the referees failing to spot the clear penalty, and livid at the fact it led to what could have been an elimination goal.
The goal could not be ruled a “no goal” even with the extra skater as the play would need to have been called prior to the goal to be penalized.
Despite it being Canada who were on the receiving end of a missed play, it was Czech head coach Radim Rulik who felt his team was the one who was up against six players.
IIHF statement on Czechia-Canada refereeing blunder
The IIHF has made their first statement on the matter relating to the apparent missed call against Czechia.
According to Pietre LeBrun, an IIHF spokesperson said that upon a review that there was a missed call on the play in which an extra skater was on the ice for the Palat goal.
The IIHF acknowledged that the play should have been penalized, but called the incident a “mistake” and that the officials involved spoke, with the focus now on the rest of the tournament.
Asked the IIHF for comment on the missed call, 6 Czechs skaters on the ice for their 3-2 goal. An IIHF spokesperson today said they reviewed it and obviously saw what we all saw, there was a missed called there. The IIHF says they went through a thorough process to select the on-officials for this tournament, the best of the best are here. But mistakes happen. The spokesperson said everyone involved has regrouped and are focusing on the rest of the tournament.
Ultimately, Canada won against Czechia, but that goal could have spelled the end of their tournament, and have created an even bigger controversy than the one seen now.
Canada moves on to face Finland in the semifinals, the IIHF hoping to avoid another incident in which a penalty goes unaccounted for, and avoid further mistakes in calling the play on the ice.
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The missed too-many-men call everyone replayed in Canada–Czechia drew a response from the IIHF
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