Slovak Ice Hockey Federation approves new disciplinary code

The Executive Committee of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation (SZĽH) has unanimously approved a new, modernized 117-article disciplinary code. The update follows a two-year process of comparing Slovak regulations with those of other International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) member nations, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Sweden.

The new regulations aim to clarify terminology, unify processes, and increase decision-making efficiency. Notable changes include a 10 percent monthly salary fine for professional players caught simulating, and increased penalties for fans involved in recidivist vulgar chanting.

The recodification effort was led by a commission including SZĽH President Miroslav Šatan, General Secretary Miroslav Lažo, and Professor Tomáš Strémy. The goal was to refine the existing framework, which, while not outdated, required updates to linguistic interpretation and sanctioning options.