Andrei Deniskin was withdrawn from circulation for this gesture. © screenshot
Andrei Deniskin only knew die-hard fans before this week. After a gesture that shook the entire ice hockey scene, the Ukrainian has inadvertently achieved worldwide fame.
30. September 2021
Author: leo
The second third is between HC Kremenchuk and HC Donbass in the top Ukrainian league. HCK striker Andrei Deniskin verbally insults the dark-skinned Jalen Smereck, an American defender for the long-time Ukrainian champions Donbass, before pretending to peel and eat a banana. Smereck is beside himself. Deniskin, a national player who took second place in the UHL scorer list last season, is banned from the game with a disciplinary penalty – and subsequently banned for 13 games.
However, this will be reduced to three games if Kremenchuk should pay 50,000 Ukrainian hryvnia, the equivalent of 1,621 euros. A judgment that has been received with disbelief in Ukraine and far beyond. “$ 1870 for racism? We demand a review of the decision! ”Writes Donbass on social media. Smereck himself, who is playing his first season in Europe, was shocked and decided not to play another game for the Ukrainian club before Deniskin “is banned from the league”.
Further consequences threaten
In the meantime, the international ice hockey federation IIHF has also intervened and emphasized that “it will be ensured that all necessary investigations into violations of professional ethics are carried out in order to ensure that this behavior is appropriately punished”. Means that Deniskin will also face a suspension for national team games. The 23-year-old has now apologized on social media. “I respect all people, regardless of their race or nationality,” he says.
According to Smereck, it had come to this because of a fight between Deniskin and a teammate. “He dealt four or five punches while he (Smereck’s team-mate, editor’s note) was lying on the ground. I tried to intervene, ”Smereck told ESPN: “I told him to fight me. And then he answered with it. “
Great support
After the incident, the American received great support, including from Arizona Coyotes star Clayton Keller, who is good friends with Smereck. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the video. Just awful. There is no place for racism in ice hockey, ”says the NHL striker
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