Far-right views shared: Controversial goalie breaks with the DEB


Ultra-right views shared
Controversial goalie breaks with the DEB

Thomas Greiss would not have been nominated for the national team under the current leadership in German ice hockey anyway. Now he ends the topic for himself but all-encompassing. Disappointed, he withdraws and defends himself against the image of being a right-wing radical.

NHL goalkeeper Thomas Greiss has announced his resignation from the national ice hockey team. The 35-year-old from the Detroit Red Wings had previously not been considered for the World Cup in Riga, mainly because of some social media postings. “I have always enjoyed playing for the national team. There are always great guys there. I also wish German ice hockey all the best, but the DEB issue has been dealt with for me,” said Greiss in an interview with the magazine “Eishockey News”.

Before the World Cup, DEB sports director Christian Künast had made it clear in the association’s statutes, with a view to the values ​​of the German Ice Hockey Federation, that Greiss was “out of the question for a nomination for sporting leadership at the moment”. Greiss had not played for Germany since the home World Cup in 2017. The Donald Trump supporter had shown sympathy with ultra-right views on social networks several times.

“I’m not a National Socialist and not a right-wing radical. I am very cosmopolitan. I hope that everyone else is also open-minded and tolerant,” said Greiss and confirmed that there was another conversation between him and national coach Toni Söderholm, in the loud Söderhölm had also been discussed intensively, had come. Then the DEB agreed that another nomination was not a good idea.

“This decision that I am no longer nominated came out of nowhere,” said Greiss, however, and complained that Künast and association president Franz Reindl had never contacted him. Künast would only have phoned his agent. Greiss described the “whole process” as “disappointing” and referred to Reindl in particular: “I am also disappointed with Franz Reindl in particular. I have known him very well and for a long time.” Reindl defended the approach. “We have tried carefully not to make a quick shot,” he told the German press agency. “Toni spoke to him. He is the national coach and is responsible for the nomination.”

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