Hockey Club Official Fined for Harassment of Referee
Table of Contents
Primary Topic: Sports discipline/Hockey League Penalties
Primary Keyword: Róbert Ľupták fine
Secondary Keywords: HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš, HC Prešov, Slovak Hockey League (SZĽH), referee harassment, disciplinary action, Peter Jonák, Tomáš Hronský
Róbert Ľupták, Chairman of the Hockey Club HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš, has been fined EUR 500 by the Senate for Professional hockey (SPH DK SZĽH) following an incident involving harassment of a referee after a match on September 26th. The disciplinary action stems from his conduct following a game between HC Prešov and HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš.
Details of the Incident
The SPH DK resolute that Ľupták violated disciplinary rules by contacting referee Peter Jonák via telephone and SMS to complain about his performance during the Prešov-Liptovský Mikuláš match.According to the disciplinary report, Ľupták sent a message stating, “As long as I am in hockey, I will fight against you.” He also attempted to contact Jonák repeatedly and sent an SMS message containing vulgar language.
The incident was witnessed by Tomáš Hronský, head referee of the Tipsport League, who was traveling with Jonák at the time. Evidence presented to the SPH DK included screenshots of call history and the offensive SMS message.
Disciplinary Action and Considerations
the SPH DK imposed the maximum allowable fine of EUR 500, citing a pattern of similar behavior from Ľupták. The disciplinary body noted that the harassment was not limited to a single call or message, but constituted a sustained effort to intimidate and berate the referee.Moreover, the SPH DK considered Ľupták’s prior disciplinary record for similar offensive conduct when determining the penalty.
Implications and League Standards
This incident highlights the Slovak Hockey league’s (SZĽH) commitment to protecting its officials from harassment and ensuring fair play. The league’s disciplinary rules, as outlined in the Special Part of the Disciplinary Rules of the SZĽH, specifically address conduct intended to undermine the integrity of officiating. https://www.hockeyslovakia.sk/ (Official website of Slovak Hockey)