Actually, Zilliacus claims that he arranged buyers for the arena and a KHL contact three years ago (so it was him who made the pitch, not the other way around). However, Harkimo shot it down and now Zilliacus is sore because Harkimo later found his own contacts while following his alleged plan otherwise to the letter.Zilliacus´case is interesting, it says that KHL had tried for 3+yrs to aquire finnish KHL club. No suprise, of course.
Pretty much, yeah. Best note though that even if it breaks some unwritten conduct or other, there's nothing illegal about it. Same with Zilliacus' complaints. So in the end, the dogs bark and the caravan moves on.Zabludowicz was just unhappy that Harkimo bought his share of the arena before selling to Russians without telling him about his plans and says that it's against "proper businessman code".
Actually, Zilliacus claims that he arranged buyers for the arena and a KHL contact three years ago (so it was him who made the pitch, not the other way around). However, Harkimo shot it down and now Zilliacus is sore because Harkimo later found his own contacts while following his alleged plan otherwise to the letter.
Harkimo answers by saying that Zilliacus was never a big player in the arena business (with only 1% share) and around 10 different people have approached him with some Russian contact or other.
It's a classic case of one man's word against another, so no comment on who's closer to the truth here.
Pretty much, yeah. Best note though that even if it breaks some unwritten conduct or other, there's nothing illegal about it. Same with Zilliacus' complaints. So in the end, the dogs bark and the caravan moves on.
Fact is, Harkimo has fewer business friends in Finland after he handled this affair.
Looks like it's time to break out the pop corn:
http://www.sm-liiga.fi/arkisto/uutiset/sm-liigan-tiedote-16.7.2013.html
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/sm-liiga/art-1288582564177.html
In a nutshell for all our foreign friends: the majority of the other SM-liiga teams want Jokerit out of the league now instead of after next season. Also, according to SM-liiga, Jokerit DO NOT have a binding contract with the KHL, and currently they don't have permission from SM-liiga to join another league because they did not ask for it.
I love that they're going against Kale, even if this will probably lead to nothing, at least they're not just standing there and letting Kale do whatever he wants whether it's right or not.
True, but I doubt he cares. He's got much richer friends in Russia now.
Could this mean Jokerit would have no league to play in for 1 year? Or what's the possible outcomes from this?
2013/14 - Jokerit playing SM-Liiga
2014/15 - Jokerit playing KHL
One year without playing any league is nonsense and wont happen. Like it or not.
Let's put it like this: Before the clubs actually announce a decision to shut Jokerit outside instead of just talking about the possibility, I figure that old saying, "talk is cheap" is very applicable.I'd like someone from Finland to answere that, thanks.
Let's put it like this: Before the clubs actually announce a decision to shut Jokerit outside instead of just talking about the possibility, I figure that old saying, "talk is cheap" is very applicable.
This is not really about the rest of the SM-liiga clubs preventing Jokerit from joining the KHL. They can't do that, it's FIHA's domain. They can, however, shut them out of their league. Which we'll believe when it happens.
FIHA ( = Kummola) greenlighted the move. IIHF ( = Kummola) will determine if everything is kosher. Somehow, I don't see those two "different" parties contradicting each other.Actually that's still to be determined. Sm-Liiga asked IIHF to approach the matter since "consult" is a rather vague term.
Something tells me no party involved has prepared to figure out the answer to this question.If they would be thrown out of SM-liiga, would the KHL pay for their expenses during the off-year?
FIHA ( = Kummola) greenlighted the move. IIHF ( = Kummola) will determine if everything is kosher. Somehow, I don't see those two "different" parties contradicting each other.
Seriously, before we actually see something concrete to happen, one should pay no mind to these news trying to dissent the move, and simply presume everything will go to the original plan. SM-liiga and the clubs not liking this move are throwing temper tantrums because some are afraid it will diminish their own importance, some are simply traditionalists who hate any kind of change, some are jealous, some simply hate Harkimo's guts and some are some combination of all four.
Seriously though, the best practice for people not liking this move would be to stay quiet and see what comes of it. If it turns out to be a dismal failure, they could then come out and have a hearty laugh at it. But if it turns out to be successful, they'll be the ones who become the laughing stock. Despite doing my best to see the positives I have my own reservations about this all, but I still can't help but figure how childish it is to cry about it now that the cat is already out of the bag.
Something tells me no party involved has prepared to figure out the answer to this question.
In the end though, money probably isn't much of an issue. The bigger issue is potentially having a teamful of players sit out a season.
FIHA ( = Kummola) greenlighted the move. IIHF ( = Kummola) will determine if everything is kosher. Somehow, I don't see those two "different" parties contradicting each other.
Нет-нет-нет. Не хочу, чтобы меня поняли неправильно. На самом деле я очень рад продвижению КХЛ в Европу. Хоккей Латвии, Белоруссии, Украины от этого только выигрывает. Так же как и словацкий. Признаюсь: я был крайне удивлен успеху клуба из Братиславы. В хорошем смысле. Радостно удивлен. "Слован" оказался прорывным проектом. С точки зрения не только спорта, но и коммерции. На каждую игру десятитысячная арена раскупалась без остатка.
А Прага? Вот уж сюрприз так сюрприз. Три топ-команды в одном городе! Я был уверен, что "Лев" проиграет конкуренцию за болельщика и "Спарте", и "Славии". Ничего подобного! Чехи оказались совсем не консервативны и с удовольствием повалили на чемпионат КХЛ. Теперь я не буду выступать против расширения вашей лиги дальше на европейский запад.
I am happy for KHL´s success in Europe (talking about Slovan, Lev etc - read russian text, not important here).... I wont be against expansion of your league (KHL) to western Europe anymore.
http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/8023.html?cHash=5354f82174“Jokerit’s move from the Finnish SM-liiga to the KHL is a part of international development of hockey. The Finnish association has no reason to be against it,”
One more time and I hope EVERYBODY gets it because it is annoying to write the same thing again and again.
Hope you're not really that naive. Officially, there's naturally a conflict of interest if Kummola was directly involved in both processes. But do you really think that SM-liiga's lobbying against it will be enough when Kummola's of the opposite mind, pulling strings and lobbying for it from the inside?Kummola is only the Finnish hockey rep in the affair, SM-Liiga asked the IIHF (NOT Kummola, he is only vice secretary and would not deal in legal matters) for an official viewpoint on what "consult" means".
Seriously, before we actually see something concrete to happen, one should pay no mind to these news trying to dissent the move, and simply presume everything will go to the original plan. SM-liiga and the clubs not liking this move are throwing temper tantrums because some are afraid it will diminish their own importance, some are simply traditionalists who hate any kind of change, some are jealous, some simply hate Harkimo's guts and some are some combination of all four.
Seriously though, the best practice for people not liking this move would be to stay quiet and see what comes of it. If it turns out to be a dismal failure, they could then come out and have a hearty laugh at it. But if it turns out to be successful, they'll be the ones who become the laughing stock. Despite doing my best to see the positives I have my own reservations about this all, but I still can't help but figure how childish it is to cry about it now that the cat is already out of the bag.
Indeed.IMO this whole thing is just tabloids making stuff up because there's nothing else to report in July and SM-liiga flexing its' muscles (which they don't even have). It would be incredibly stupid from financial stand point to throw Jokerit out of the league. Such act would only serve to satisfy some primal need for revenge. I understand that most decisions we make are based on feelings, but I don't think even SM-liiga is stupid enough to let their petty little feelings get the best of them in this matter.
Food for thought: Imagine what the response would have been if Jokerit had announced they will join KHL for the upcoming season already, instead of the following one?
"You can't leave now that we've locked down the schedule", would probably have been the prime wail coming from a ton of mouths. But no, instead of using the extra warning time to sort out the league for 2014-15, they'll be wasting their energy for petty threats.
Come to think of it, maybe Hjallis should've just silently sorted all out and only release the news next May. "'Tis Roman, he mah new pal. We ofh to join KHL nao. 'kthxbye." Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Yeah, I think this was going to be a **** storm anyway. It's only natural that, just like fans, even SM-liiga bosses have been somewhat emotional about this at first and of course media is milking everything out of that emotion. Maybe I'm naive but I believe that once they hold their meeting they come to their senses and stop thinking about their precious "credibility". Only way to get credibility is to stop wasting resources on planning revenge and start building the future.
It is interesting to follow the negotiations though. Basically Hjallis wants SM-liiga to pay him for the league license and SM-liiga wants Hjallis to pay them for violating the stakeholder agreement. Who will give in or is it going to court?
Whatever happens this whole thing, along with Karalahti signing, is good marketing for the upcoming SM-liiga season. Hockey's been on the headlines for over three weeks now in the middle of the summer and the headlines will continue.
This is for Hjallis... and for Sport, welcome to SM-liiga in '14-15.
Everything that's come up of this whole affair speaks that Hjallis & Kummola handled everything in the worst way possible, violating common practice and SM-Liiga rules/by-laws. It's looking heavily like Hjallis is going to end up paying.