ÖEL temporarily suspends training and match oper­a­tions

Image note: The puck will temporarily be at rest - Copyright: GEPA pictures/Manfred Binder

There is currently a request to cease match and training operations during the lockdown. Due to these differing views, training and match operations will be temporarily suspended in consultation with the ÖEL clubs. The ÖEHV will seek to have this matter clarified as quickly as possible.

Following an enquiry from a district administrative authority to the Ministry of Sport regarding the status of the ÖEL, the Ministry stated that training and match operations must cease in the highest league exclusively comprising Austrian clubs.

Following repeated, thorough legal reviews, the ÖEHV considers its decision that the ÖEL remains entitled to conduct training and match operations to have been confirmed. The relevant provision in the Federal Sports Funding Act (§ 3 Z 6) defines elite sport as follows: “Competition-oriented sport with the aim of producing national or international top performances.” In the ÖEHV's view, the three relevant criteria of “competition-oriented sport” and the “aim of national or international top performances” are clearly met in the case of the ÖEL:

• The ÖEL is the highest Austrian league consisting exclusively of Austrian clubs
• The ÖEL is played nationwide – this was and remains one of the key criteria set by the Ministry of Sport
• An Austrian ÖEL championship title is contested, meaning that the criterion of “striving for national top performances” is considered to be met
• The majority of players pursue their sporting activity as a part-time occupation, meaning that the ÖEL is not an amateur league
• The roster published last week for the U20 World Championship (Top Division), which will be held in Canada over New Year, includes a total of seven ÖEL players. The ÖEHV therefore also considers the criterion of “striving for international top performances” to be met
• The U18 national team roster from the November break also includes several players who are active in the ÖEL. The ÖEHV therefore considers the criterion of “striving for international top performances” to be further substantiated
• Since the league was founded, all ÖEL teams have fulfilled all requirements for elite sports teams without exception. To date, no Covid-19 cluster has been traced back to ÖEL training and/or match operations

To clarify the matter with the Ministry of Sport, the ÖEHV, in consultation with ÖEL representatives, has decided to temporarily suspend the elite sport certification for the ÖEL and therefore pause training and match operations.

The ÖEHV and the ÖEL expect a swift decision in order to limit economic and sporting damage.