From there further concerns arose including suspicions that the Czechoslovak secret police and even KGB agents were searching for Ihnačák to bring him back home, where he would have been put in prison for three years for the defection attempt. Then problems arose with immigration officials who claimed that Ihnačák would have to spend up to two months in a refugee camp to first apply for asylum in Austria; all of this going on while he and his girlfriend were hiding out in an anonymous Vienna apartment. Then on New Year's Eve reports of the immigration issues were leaked to the press prompting public backlash resulting in two Canadian politicians getting involved to immediately get the Slovak hockey player out on the soonest possible flight.
This led to additional concerns, including suspicions that Czechoslovak secret police and KGB agents were searching for Ihnačák to bring him back home, where he would have faced imprisonment for three years due to his defection attempt. Simultaneously, issues arose with immigration officials who required Ihnačák to spend up to two months in a refugee camp before applying for asylum in Austria; all of this was happening while he and his girlfriend were hiding out in an anonymous Vienna apartment.