Report: Update in the pathetic three game suspension handed out for disgusting racial act

Wait... so this guy can just pay $180 per game to get out of his suspension?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Report: Update in the pathetic three game suspension handed out for disgusting racial act
Zuma Press

In case you missed the news this past weekend, Jalen Smereck, a black hockey player who spent time in the Arizona Coyotes organization and who was subjected to a racist gesture during a Ukrainian Hockey League game this past weekend has announced he is taking a personal leave of absence from his team and from professional hockey in general.

“These situations are very tough and I am a big believer in standing up for what is right,” Smereck wrote on Instagram earlier today. “I have been putting a lot of thought into what comes next for me in my career but as of right now I have decided that I will be taking a personal leave of absence from HC Donbass and I will not play another game in the [Ukrainian Hockey League] until Andrey Denyskin is suspended and removed from the league. Thank you.”

The incident, for those unaware, occurred during a game between HC Donbass, whom Smereck plays for, and HC Kremenchuk. between whistles, Smereck and Denyskin appeared to share words when Denyskin went way, way, waaaay over the line by miming unpeeling a banana and eating it. The intent, I suppose, was to compare the dark skinned Smereck to an ape.

Here's the gesture in question:



Denyskin was ejected from the game and given an unspecified suspension. Denyskin later apologized and did not hide from his hideous actions. He claimed he regrets making “a gesture that someone can consider as an insult in race” and that he allowed his emotions to get the best of him. Denyskin went on to claim he respects “all people regardless of race or nationality.” It's worth noting that he has since deleted the apology from his social media channels.

Today the Ukrainian league issued a rather paltry three game suspension and stated that Denyskin was subject to an additional 10 game suspension but that he'd be able to essentially "buy out" those 10 games... at the cost of 1,000 Ukrainian rubles per game. Oh... and if you're wondering how much that is... it's about $180 USD per game. So essentially, this guy can buy his way back into the game for less than $200 a pop. If you're like me and you're wondering what gives... well thankfully there's more information.

Check out this report from Gord Miller of TSN:





Call me crazy but a 13 game suspension and $1800 fine still seems awfully light to me...

Source: Gord Miller