Czech foreign minister apologizes for ‘very inappropriate’ women’s hockey remarks

Foreign Minister Petr Macinka apologized Monday for comments about female hockey players, acknowledging that his remarks were “very inappropriate” and had hurt Czech women’s hockey and the wider sporting community.

The Motorists leader had described ice hockey as a men’s sport during a Sunday television debate. Discussing efforts to prevent Russian players competing in Czechia, he said “feminists” would have to manage without Russian “mannish women.”

Speaking after Monday’s cabinet meeting, Macinka said he regretted the remarks and had called the general manager of the Czech women’s national team to apologize to the players.

“Although I was speaking about Russian hockey players, not Czech ones, I think that is completely irrelevant at this point,” Macinka said.

He acknowledged how the subsequent interpretation of his comments had affected Czech women’s hockey and the sporting world.

“I have to say that I really regret it and am genuinely sorry,” he added.

Macinka also said his wife had strongly criticized him. She had told him that, if their daughter wanted to play hockey when she was older, she would enroll her—and he would be responsible for driving her to practices.

Describing his remarks as an own goal, he said he hoped attention would now return to supporting Czech players.

The apology followed criticism from former Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, who challenged the comments during Sunday’s CNN Prima News debate, and other opposition politicians.

Sports Minister Boris Šťastný, a member of Macinka’s own party, had also responded by praising women’s hockey and saying sporting performance, effort and determination mattered more than prejudice.

Macinka’s apology did not signal a change in the government’s opposition to Russian participation in January’s under-18 women’s world championship in Ostrava.

He said Monday that he would meet Czech hockey officials in the coming days, alongside Šťastný. A date had not yet been set.

The discussions concern how Czech authorities could prevent Russian players competing, including if they arrived through another country in the Schengen area.

Czechia does not issue visas to Russian athletes, Macinka reiterated during the weekend debate.

Šťastný said Monday morning that the state had sufficient legal tools to prevent Russian players taking part in Ostrava. Any potential arrival through another Schengen country would be handled by the Interior Ministry, he said.

Government representatives have criticized the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision ordering Russia’s immediate return to international tournaments. Opposition politicians have also discussed placing restrictions on Russian athletes on a statutory footing rather than relying on a government regulation.