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| Alexander Semin: I Was Emphatically Suggested in Togliatti Not to Leave |
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Alexander Semin
By Pavel Strizhevsky (Sport-Express: November 8, 2005)
Translated by Alexei Belousenko & Eugene Belashchenko (RusHockey.com / RussianProspects.com)
Yesterday morning forward Alexander Semin participated in his first practice with the national team that is currently preparing for the Karjala Cup at Novogorsk training camp. After practice the forward answered the Sport-Express correspondent's questions. It wasn't easy for Semin to talk about the uneasy situation with Washington's court decision. Nevertheless, this interview shined some light regarding the current situation.
Have you heard about American court's decision to penalize your agent and forbid you to play for any club other than the Capitals?
A. Semin: Yes, I've heard about it. Actually, I've read it in Sport-Express.
And do you think of it?
A. Semin: I wouldn't like to comment regarding any legal details.
Do you realize that the court prohibited you to play anywhere else except Washington?
A. Semin: I found out about it from Sport-Express as well. So far I haven't talk to my agent about it.
How often do you talk to your agent?
A. Semin: Often.
And what does he think of this situation?
A. Semin: He says that we'll resolve the problem.
What is the problem?
A. Semin: Whether I will be playing hockey.
Were you surprised that Washington sued you?
A. Semin: Actually, I was expecting that they would go through it.
American court accepts appeals. Will your agent appeal the court's decision?
A. Semin: Perhaps.
The judge allotted for huge penalties if you were to go against his ruling'
A. Semin: Let him judge, what can I do about it?
What are your plans after the Karjala Cup?
A. Semin: Perhaps, I will search for a new team.
Haven't you found one already? Seems that Khimik is expecting to see you on their roster.
A. Semin: I'm expecting a lot of things too, doesn't mean they are going to happen...
Who is working to find you a team in Russia?
A. Semin: The same agent, Mark Gandler.
Did they already suggest you to search for another team in Lada?
A. Semin: Yes.
Before the starting round of the EuroTour you asked to leave because of your passport issues. Were these problems related to your possible departure overseas?
A. Semin: Yes. Back then I didn't have an American visa.
And now?
A. Semin: I have a visa now.
Then, what is stopping you from catching a flight and go to Washington right now?
A. Semin: I'm in military service, so they won't let me go.
Americans insist that your military service is a lie that it was made up by the Russian club.
A. Semin: If they don't believe it, then it's their problem. Let them come over here and see it, but they haven't yet come. There is one guy named Gleb Chistyakov, their representative in Russia, so he informs them. My opinion - I would like to play for the Capitals, even right now.
When does your military service end?
A. Semin: I think next August.
Will the fact that Washington took such an adversarial position right now may influence your relationships in future?
A. Semin: I don't know. If they are willing me to let me play for them, I'm ready to play in this team.
If you would have arrived in Washington immediately, would your agent have pay the named damages regardless?
A. Semin: As far as I can tell - no.
Don't you think that a partial fault in what happened lies with your agent?
A. Semin: Not at all. Why is it his fault?
Maybe, you should come to America at the beginning of this season?
A. Semin: I'm telling you, I couldn't come over! They didn't let me.
Two years ago Nikolai Zherdev, being in a similar situation, went overseas.
A. Semin: Well, Zherdev' I don't need all these troubles. Why should I put myself in that situation when I wouldn't be able to return to Russia? Some people made it so that I ended up in army. I was emphatically suggested in Togliatti not to leave.
Are you afraid to follow Zherdev's trail?
A. Semin: I was told what would happen in such a case'
What?
A. Semin: It's better if I don't say it (smiling).
Are there any chances that you would be prohibited to play hockey anywhere?
A. Semin: That is not possible. Russia is not required to follow the decisions of the American court's. Besides, our country hasn't signed an agreement with the NHL. Even if they would, there is a clause in the agreement that prohibits preventing a player to serve in army.
Don't you think you got bad luck in all this?
A. Semin: Bad luck? I don't think so. I play hockey anyway, and I will keep playing.
Do you follow the fortunes of your NHL club?
A. Semin: Sure. I just I don't know how last night game ended.
Washington won over Toronto 5:4 and Ovechkin scored two goals.
A. Semin: That's great!
Vladimir Shalaev, PHL (Professional Hockey League)'s vice-president: At recent the meeting of Federal Agency of Sports Vyacheslav Fetisov with the owners of the Super League's, Kuperman persuaded everyone that the new Euro-Asian Hockey League will entice players who have active contracts in NHL. I said that all this is just rubbish, and it would end badly. And now we have the first example of real slavery. Possible sanctions regarding Semin is an expectable reaction: a player definitely should be in charge of the contract he signs. That is where PHL is moving towards, but so far the law is not on our side. Regarding the American court's decision, its jurisdiction doesn't hold in Russia, national team at the Olympic Games and World Championships, and, of course, the PHL. Thus, as Semin was playing, so he will continue playing.
Washington's representatives are sure that military services which stopped Semin from his departure to America is a bluff.
V. Shalaev: This can be confirmed only by the Military Office of Public Prosecutor. So, we take a side that Semin is in military services until the moment when someone can prove us wrong.
In American media, NHL's commissioner Gary Bettman announced that Russia will pay dearly at the end because they didn't sign NHL-IIHF agreement'
V. Shalaev: I've read this interview. Actually, Bettman is right: due to a lack of the agreement, North-Americans have rights to do what they want, but so do we. This will continue until we negotiate a deal. But I think at the end we'll reach a deal.
Anatoly Bardin, the head of independent Russian players union.
Could the American court's decision spread to the territory of Russia somehow in order to forbid Semin to play?
A. Bardin: I'd like to specify: what city's court made this decision?
District of Columbia, in other words Washington.
A. Bardin: In this case any court in any of our cities, though not necessarily big city, can make an analog decision prohibiting Alexander to play in the NHL. And it would be absolutely correct. I'd like to announce one more time, today's NHL's tactics to play hard ball is not based on anything. We don't have an agreement with the overseas league, so it explains everything. Russian players union takes Semin's side and completely supports him. Besides, I think our country should take a tough position in this problem and not to react in any way to American court's decision.
At the moment Semin is in military services, but Lada doesn't have anything to do the army club'
A. Bardin: There are many branches of the army allover Russia, and Semin no matter where he would take his services could be assigned to any military district. Everyone who is in a sports division has the right to follow his professional responsibilities, representing any club.
What would you suggest to Semin as a head of the union?
A. Bardin: Not to worry. Since his rights are owned by American club, then he should send a letter confirmed by a head of army division saying that he is in military services at the moment, and by the end of his services he will be available. Even if he doesn't repair his relations with Washington , but still be playing good caliber hockey, then any other club in the NHL would readily get Semin's rights in a court. Americans respect their own laws, so they should respect other country's laws. It's not my call where a player should play, but following other country's court decisions is nonsense.
Mark Gandler, Semin's agent. (Photo: RussianProspects.com)
Could you comment on District of Columbia's court decision which prohibits Semin to play anywhere besides Washington?
M. Gandler: Actually, I'm absolutely not surprised about such a decision because Sasha has a contract with the Washington Capitals.
Are you going to appeal this decision?
M. Gandler: That's it. I'm not going to talk publicly regarding this question. As long as the process continues, any careless words may negatively impact our interests.
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