Ice Hockey Federation Opposes Immediate Return of Russian Teams
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) says it still opposes the immediate return of Russian national teams to international competition, despite a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling last week that overturned Russia’s exclusion following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The federation warned that reinstatement would create major practical and sporting difficulties, including visa and entry requirements, security arrangements, logistical constraints and possible changes to competition formats.
The ruling has triggered resistance across Europe. Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Czech Republic have said their men’s national teams will not play Russia at next year’s World Championships in Germany. Latvia and Finland have also announced similar positions, while the Finnish city of Turku has threatened to withdraw as a host for the 2028 World Junior Championship. The IIHF says it is consulting national associations, host authorities and organisers about how to proceed.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Russia and Belarus will be barred from the upcoming World Junior Championship in Alberta. Russia’s ambassador, Oleg Stepanov, criticised the decision as political interference in junior sport. The dispute is also affecting commercial support: Škoda Auto, the championships’ main sponsor since 1993, said Russia’s participation would be incompatible with its stated values and that it would reassess its involvement. In 2025, the company provided organisers with 45 electric cars and helped create the tournament’s crystal most-valuable-player trophy.
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