CAS orders IIHF to reinstate Russian national teams: federations and host countries look for response options

The court ruling and the IIHF's reaction

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne has ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) must once again admit Russia's national teams to world championships. Russian teams have not taken part in them since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The ruling was issued on Russia's appeal: the court found the IIHF's arguments insufficiently substantiated — the federation, even after the IOC lifted the ban on the Russian Olympic Committee in July, had decided to continue excluding Russian teams in the 2026/27 season, citing security considerations. This was reported by Deutsche Welle.

Federation president: 'implement the ruling responsibly'

IIHF President Franz Reindl, elected in early October, immediately after the verdict convened a meeting of the federation's main governing body for Monday and Tuesday. 'Our task now is to implement this ruling responsibly,' he said, adding that only a few weeks remain before several championships and that changes to participation affect players, teams, organizing committees and host cities. The first tournament covered by the ruling is the World Junior Championship, which begins on December 26 in Canada; how exactly it will affect the tournament remains unclear.

Canada and Germany consider options

Canada, which will host the junior tournament, reacted harshly. Foreign Minister Anita Anand said on CBC that she 'does not feel comfortable' with a Russian team taking part in Alberta, calling the ruling 'highly undesirable' against the backdrop of the geopolitical situation. Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden stated in a declaration that Canada will maintain restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes in state-funded events on its territory. Hockey Canada said it is in contact with the IIHF and has informed the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney. Germany, which will host the 2027 men's World Championship in Gelsenkirchen, Düsseldorf and Mannheim, is also studying its options: according to the DPA news agency, the government assessed the verdict 'very critically' and will discuss the consequences with the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB), whose head Franz Reindl—no, whose head Frank Lutz is traveling to Berlin this week. He suggested that the DEB 'should also consider the option of returning this championship,' although he does not want to 'either paint a black picture or put the championship in question.'

Federations, Russia and a possible precedent

The federations of Ukraine, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic expressed disappointment at the ruling. Latvia by law prohibits its teams from playing against Russian ones, Finland said that players will be able to individually opt out of tournaments involving Russia, and the head of the Swedish association, Anders Larsson, who sits on the IIHF council, told the TT agency that 'a boycott is not on the agenda,' but at the same time 'our position is that Russia cannot participate in international championships in the current situation.' A boycott of individual tournaments by national teams is also possible. In Russia, the ruling was received positively: Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev told the Vesti TV channel that 'discrimination in hockey is over.' Deutsche Welle also notes possible broader consequences: after the victory at CAS, football could be Russia's next target, where national teams and clubs remain suspended. Russian Football Union General Secretary Maxim Mitrofanov told the TASS agency that 'there must be one rule for everyone'; meanwhile, FIFA admitted a Russian youth team under the national flag to the first U-15 World Championship in Azerbaijan.