Coat of arms: Let’s decode a stupid press release from Swiss Ice Hockey

Cases of coats of arms worn illegally by Swiss hockey players called to represent their country on the international stage, continued.

This Thursday, Swiss Ice Hockey released six lines, not one more, under the heading “Position relating to the use of the Swiss crest”.

Six lines which, in our opinion, are as useless as a refrigerator in Alaska. A comb in Zinedine Zidane’s bathroom. Or a corkscrew at an AA meeting.

Let’s decode the words produced by the Fédé thanks to the complicity of its friend Deepl.

“The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation has decided to accept the ruling of the Federal Administrative Court of October 15, 2024 and to introduce a new jersey design from January 1, 2027 (…).”

This means that the Federation, still chaired by Stefan Schärer, who manages this file, is applying a decision rendered by a Court. A bit like everyone else. And that, therefore, she will have to change the logo of her jersey. There, we could say: great, the change will only happen in two years. Yes, but no, wait…

“(…) subject to a revision of the law on the protection of coats of arms.”

There is a “subject to”. And the “subject to” brings back what the Committee on Science, Education and Culture (CSEC) of the Swiss Parliament communicated on October 25. She considered that “the national teams represent Switzerland and that the use of the coat of arms by the national teams in addition to the national flag would not represent a problem from the point of view of legal certainty.” She therefore asked “to modify the law on the protection of coats of arms (LPAP) so that all Swiss national teams can legally use the Swiss coat of arms.”

President of the CSEC, Simone de Montmollin told us: “The file will be dealt with by the National Council during the next winter session.” So in December 2024.

She had specified that if it passed this hurdle, it would be handed over to the Federal Council which would have two years to modify the law.

Two years brings us to December 2026.

Just before January 1, 2027…

“We have reached a reasonable agreement with the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI).”

This passage is just to say that the Fed worked on the file and that, like a good Swiss, it found a compromise with officials who were looking for lice.

Yeah, but the National Council will (probably) overstep the jurisdiction of the IPI in December.

“The discussion on the use of the Swiss crest is thus closed.”

It’s just for show. Because, uh, say Swiss Ice Hockey, if we believe that there is, for the public, an interest in talking about it, well we will talk about it. No but…

“Moreover, we are aware of the efforts undertaken to modify the law on the protection of coats of arms.”

Ah still! We hope that Madame de Montmollin was not thanked only through this masterpiece…