René Fasel

Born in Fribourg, Switzerland, Fasel started his playing career with the Swiss league team HC Fribourg-Gottéron in 1960. He remained with the team until 1972 and retired to become a referee. He remained a referee until 1982 and officiated 37 international matches.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/council/rene-fasel.html|title=IIHF Council|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|accessdate=2009-04-09}} In 1982 he became the Chairman of the Swiss Ice Hockey League referees' commission. In 1985, he became president of the Schweizerischer Eishockeyverband, Switzerland's governing body for ice hockey. He was elected to the IIHF council the following year and served as head of the Referee and the Marketing Committees.

In June 1994, he was elected the President of the IIHF, succeeding Günther Sabetzki, winning the election by three votes over Kai Hietarinta of Finland.{{cite web|url=https://jaakiekkomuseo.fi/hall-of-fame/hietarinta-kai/|title=117 Hietarinta Kai|date=1998|website=Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame|location=Tampere, Finland|language=fi|access-date=8 March 2025}} He has served four consecutive terms as President. His most recent started at the IIHF congress in May 2008 when he was unopposed in his re-election attempt.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=236315|title=Fasel unopposed for re-election as IIHF President|publisher=The Sports Network|date=2009-04-30|accessdate=2009-04-09}} As IIHF president, Fasel has tried to forge a stronger relationship between the IIHF and the National Hockey League (NHL), the major professional ice hockey league of North America. In March 1995, he helped negotiate an agreement so that NHL players could compete at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.{{Cite web|title=The N.H.L.'s Olympic Gamble; Stars' Participation in Nagano Could Raise Sport's Profile|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901EFD91438F935A2575AC0A961958260&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FO%2FOlympic%20Games|author=Lapointe, Joe|work=The New York Times|date=1997-09-16|accessdate=2009-02-17}} He has also vowed to "work day and night" to help negotiate an agreement that will see NHL players participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics.{{Cite web|title=Bettman and Fasel face off |url=http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/news/newsid=7810.html#bettman+fasel+face|publisher=CTV Olympics|accessdate=2009-04-06|date=2009-03-27}} He is against fighting in ice hockey, describing it as "Neanderthal behavior".{{Cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/112931-beyond-the-bleachers-with-iihf-president-rene-fasel|title=Beyond the Bleachers with IIHF President Rene Fasel|publisher=Bleacher Report|accessdate=2009-04-09|author=Bass, Alan|date=2009-01-19}}

In 1992 he became a member of the Swiss Olympic Association. In 1995 he became a member of the International Olympic Committee. He was the first ever representative of ice hockey. As an IOC member, he has held several positions, including Chairman of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) and Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the 2010 Winter Olympics. In May 2008, Fasel was nominated to replace Ottavio Cinquanta as the winter sports representative on the IOC's executive board.{{Cite web|title=Fasel set to join the IOC executive|url=http://www.iihf.com/de/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/browse/2/article/fasel-set-to-join-the-ioc-executive.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=181&cHash=5f292fa065|date=2008-05-06|accessdate=2009-04-09|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604183207/http://www.iihf.com/de/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/browse/2/article/fasel-set-to-join-the-ioc-executive.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=181&cHash=5f292fa065|archivedate=2011-06-04}} He was named to the board on 7 August at the 120th IOC Session held before the 2008 Summer Olympics and served an eight-year term until 2016 when he was replaced by Gian-Franco Kasper.{{Cite web|title=Moroccan woman set to join IOC rule making body|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=3521418|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|date=2008-08-07|access-date=2009-04-09}}

In a conflict of interest, Fasel assisted a friend in securing a contract for overseeing the IIHF's television and marketing rights. In April 2010, IOC only reprimanded Fasel, a lighter sentence than in other similar cases.{{cite web |last1=Grohmann |first1=Karolos |title=IIHF's Fasel sorry for conflict of interest "mistake" |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63S3CY/ |website=Reuters |publisher=Thomson Reuters |access-date=25 May 2024 |date=29 April 2010}}

Fasel spoke at the World Hockey Summit in 2010, and discussed the National Hockey League (NHL) presence in Europe and in ice hockey at the Olympic Games, and was defensive of European hockey.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/18/world-hockey-summit-day-2-iihf-president-rene-fasel-says-hell-fight-like-hell-to-keep-nhl-out-of-europe|title=Euro expansion? 'Hell' no, Rene Fasel says|last=Burnside|first=Scott|date=August 24, 2010|website=ESPN|access-date=May 20, 2020}} He was against NHL expansion plans into Europe, and envisioned a European professional league, where the champion would play the Stanley Cup winner for a world title.{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/fasel-warns-nhl-over-european-expansion/article1378164/|title=Fasel warns NHL over European expansion |last=Duhatschek|first=Eric|author-link=Eric Duhatschek|date=August 24, 2010|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=May 20, 2020}} He sought to keep NHL participation at the Winter Olympics due to its profitability and exposure for international hockey.

File:René Fasel.jpg

Fasel was awarded the Order of Friendship by Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.championat.com/hockey/news-999275-dmitrij-medvedev-vruchil-rene-fazelju-orden-druzhby.html|title=Дмитрий Медведев вручил Рене Фазелю орден Дружбы}}

In January 2021, Fasel was criticized for meeting with Alexander Lukashenko regarding the 2021 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships during the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests.[https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-ice-hockey-championships-lukashenko-fasel-awkward-meeting/31042198.html 'Hello, My Dear': Lukashenka's Warm Hug For International Ice Hockey Chief Leaves Belarusian Opposition, Activists Steaming Mad ] - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 12 January 2021 Fasel replied that the meeting was solely to discuss the World Championships, and that they had known each other from playing ice hockey together.{{cite web |url=https://belarusfeed.com/rene-fasel-comments-meeting-lukashenko/ |title="I Played With Fire And Got Burned." Rene Fasel About His Meeting With Lukashenko |date=13 January 2021 |access-date=14 January 2021 |website=Belarusfeed}}

Fasel stepped down as IIHF president on 25 September 2021, and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame on the same day.{{cite news|url=https://swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/23-international/25493-rene-fasel-to-be-inducted-into-the-iihf-hall-of-fame|title=René Fasel to be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame|date=22 September 2021|work=Swiss Hockey News|access-date=22 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/news/28494/fasel_to_join_iihf_hall_of_fame|title=René Fasel to join IIHF Hall of Fame|last=Podnieks|first=Andrew|author-link=Andrew Podnieks|date=21 September 2021|website=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=14 June 2023}} He was succeeded as IIHF president by French Ice Hockey Federation president, Luc Tardif.{{cite web|url=https://www.francsjeux.com/2021/09/27/luc-tardif-diplomacy-is-needed/78744|title=Luc Tardif: "Diplomacy is needed"|language=fr|date=27 September 2021|website=Francs Jeux|access-date=5 October 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Hockey-sur-glace/Actualites/Luc-tardif-elu-president-de-la-federation-internationale-de-hockey-sur-glace/1287875|title=Luc Tardif élu président de la Fédération internationale de hockey sur glace|language=fr|date=25 September 2021|website=L'Équipe|access-date=5 October 2021}} He is still one of the life and honorary presidents of IIHF.{{cite web |title=IIHF Council |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/statichub/4628/council |website=IIHF |access-date=26 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118040727/https://www.iihf.com/en/statichub/4628/council |archive-date=18 January 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Paasi |first1=Jussi |title=Vladimir Putinia tukeva René Fasel on yhä Kansainvälisen jääkiekkoliiton kunniapuheenjohtaja – näin sitä perustellaan |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20090599 |website=Yle Uutiset |publisher=Yle |access-date=26 May 2024 |language=Finnish |date=26 May 2024}}

In March 2022, Fasel denied a report that he signed a contract to be an advisor to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He instead stated that he has given advice to the league when he has been asked.{{cite web|url=https://www.watson.ch/sport/eismeister%20zaugg/883978393-rene-fasel-dementiert-kein-vertrag-mit-der-khl|title=René Fasel dementiert: Kein Vertrag mit der KHL|last=Zaugg|first=Klaus|date=17 March 2022|work=Watson|location=Switzerland|language=de|access-date=25 March 2022}} When the IIHF suspended the Russian and Belarusian hockey federations until further notice due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Fasel was quoted in Russian media as saying it was a "sad moment in IIHF history", and that "Even in such a tense situation as today, sport must carry the message of peace and united people".{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-sports-europe-hockey-belarus-72ab45c5b700e79d9d8c9ec6ea44f34b|title=IIHF calls for ethics probe of Russian federation, Fasel|last=Whyno|first=Stephen|date=24 March 2022|work=Associated Press|access-date=24 March 2022}} The Associated Press reported that Fasel had been publicly friendly with Vladimir Putin, and that the Russian Hockey Federation instructed the KHL to distribute material supporting the invasion. The IIHF subsequently called for an independent ethics investigation into the actions of Fasel and the Russian Hockey Federation, and stated that former IIHF presidents were bound to a moral code of conduct.

Fasel is married and has four children. He attended the University of Fribourg and University of Bern and became a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1977.{{Cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/en/content/The-IOC/Members/Mr-Rene-FASEL/|title=Mr René Fasel|publisher=International Olympic Committee|accessdate=2009-04-09}} In 1997, the IOC commissioned him to conduct a study of dental treatment of Olympic athletes. The report, "Sports Dentistry and the Olympic Games", was published in 2005.{{Cite journal|publisher=Canadian Dental Association |journal=CDA Journal |date=June 2005 |volume=33 |issue=6 |author=Fasel, Rene |author2=Piccininni, Paul M. |url=http://www.cda.org/library/cda_member/pubs/journal/jour0605/piccininni.pdf |title=Sports Dentistry and the Olympic Games |pages=471–483 |pmid=16060340 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225035241/http://cda.org/library/cda_member/pubs/journal/jour0605/piccininni.pdf |archivedate=2010-12-25 }} On 26 July 2012 Fasel was part of the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay in London.{{cite web|url=http://pictures.metro.co.uk/london-2012-olympic-torch-relay-day-69/1633790/Day-69-Olympic-Torch-Relay |title=Pictures: London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay - Day 69 | Torchbearer 156 Rene Fasel carries the Olympic Torch along Oxford Street, London, on Day 69 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay |accessdate=2012-08-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731232722/http://pictures.metro.co.uk/london-2012-olympic-torch-relay-day-69/1633790/Day-69-Olympic-Torch-Relay |archivedate=2012-07-31 }}

Fasel acquired Russian citizenship in 2023, and purchased a 54 per cent stake in Alma Holding, which produces apples.{{cite news|title=Former IIHF President Fasel acquires Russian citizenship|last=Lloyd|first=Owen|date=15 February 2023|work=Inside the Games|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1133732/iihf-ex-rene-fasel-russian-citizenship|access-date=16 February 2023}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.iihf.com/en/statichub/4631/rene-fasel Biography] at IIHF

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{{succession box | before =Günther Sabetzki | title =President of the IIHF | years =1994–2021 | after =Luc Tardif}}

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Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:HC Fribourg-Gottéron players

Category:IIHF Hall of Fame inductees

Category:International Ice Hockey Federation executives

Category:Swiss International Olympic Committee members

Category:People from Fribourg

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Honour

Category:Sportspeople from the canton of Fribourg

Category:Swiss dentists

Category:Swiss ice hockey players

Category:University of Bern alumni