The social media caption speaks for itself. For all of you that fancy a team out in the Kontinental Hockey League, the struggle will now be more real then ever in any attempt to try and stay as well connected as possible to your club’s questionable losses in the foreseeable future, with no prospect of getting an answer from the KHL referees that may have cost your team the game.
No Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook for KHL refs. pic.twitter.com/MrmFaZklGd
– KHL (@khl_eng) July 17, 2019
KHL Referees Banned from Social Media
Any insight they may have, any facet to try and correct the error of their ways from game to game will no longer be a possibility for KHL referees. Though the reasoning behind this call made by league officials is still under question, we do know that within the last few years, the league has taken steps to further enhance the relationship between both clubs and KHL referees who may not see eye to eye; at the start of the 2018-19 season, it was announced that “team staff could use technology to analyze statistics and on-ice plays, but they are not allowed to show it to the officials in order to discuss a call”, which would obviously result in a bench penalty. Additionally, coaches cannot pressure referees into making decisions they do not deem necessary.
This ruling does come across as one with some real sentiment behind it. The league does seem to be doing what it feels is best in order to strengthen the bond between KHL clubs and referees, hoping the consistency with these rule changes can help bring more credibility to not only the calls made on the ice, but to the games themselves.
Playing devil’s advocate for the sake of the referees, this could be viewed as some infringement on their freedom of speech, should they choose to see it that way.
Otherwise, many see it as a Eurasian Hockey Conglomenrate doing what it feels is necessary to uphold the brand in question.
At the very slightest, the rule changes come not only as a surprise but at a rather odd time.
Main Photo: ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA MARCH 21, 2019: HC SKA St Petersburg’s Alexei Byvaltsev (C) and HC Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s Daniil Misyul (R) in action in Leg 5 of their 2018/19 KHL Western Conference semi-final playoff tie, at the Ledovy Dvorets arena. Alexander Demianchuk/TASS (Photo by Alexander DemianchukTASS via Getty Images)
