On Monday (Feb. 10), Kenneth Fok, the chef de mission of the Hong Kong, China delegation to the Harbin Asian Winter Games, announced that four Turkmenistan players who got into an altercation with SAR players had been suspended by the international ice hockey governing body.
Three Hong Kong players were injured in a post-match scuffle after defeating Turkmenistan 5-1 in a match on Sunday.
Fok said the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) welcomed "the quick and fair response" from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
"We were notified on Monday afternoon that the IIHF has suspended with immediate effect the four Turkmen athletes, who had intentionally assaulted the Hong Kong team," he said in a statement.
Fok said the Turkmenistan players wouldn't be able to play in their final game of the tournament, a matchup for ninth place against Kuwait in Monday evening.
He also confirmed that the three SAR players only suffered light injuries and would be ready to play in the quarter-finals on Monday night.
"I want to emphasize that our Team Hong Kong China's players had always stayed respectful and friendly when competing, even when facing disrespectful and threatening actions," Fok said in a video released to the press before the suspension announcement.
"Our players did not retaliate or do anything reckless. This is worthy of our praise and recognition."
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