The key facts

  • On October 30, CAS fully upheld the Russian Ice Hockey Federation's appeal and overturned the IIHF's decision to suspend Russia
  • The Russian national team will take Norway's place at the World Junior Championship, and the Norwegians will be relegated to Division 1A
  • Switzerland received an updated schedule including the Russians but refused to play them on December 27

The CAS decision and the IIHF's reaction

On October 30, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) fully upheld the appeal of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) decision to suspend the Russian national team. The IIHF itself stated that it would urgently assess the steps and time needed to implement the ruling and address its operational consequences, but expressed dissatisfaction with the arbitrators' verdict.

Consequences for Norway and Switzerland

The Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation announced that the IIHF had notified it of Russia's return to the World Junior Championship: the Russian team will take Norway's place, and the Norwegians will be relegated to Division 1A. Thus, a team that earned its place at the tournament through its sporting results loses that spot for organizational reasons — this is a confirmed change of circumstances for the Norwegian players, not a plan for the future.

Criticism of the IIHF

Norwegian journalist Jan Petter Saltvedt told RIA Novosti that the IIHF's incompetence affects hockey players from all countries. «In Norway, this news caused great outrage. It seems unfair that a team which earned the right to compete at the World Championship is being excluded from the tournament to make room for a team that most participants do not want to see there at all. The main complaints are directed precisely at the IIHF. It is the IIHF that bears responsibility for the growing chaos», he said.

Switzerland refuses to play the match

The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation received an updated tournament schedule that includes the Russians, but refused to play the match against the Russian team on December 27. Sources do not say exactly how the IIHF will resolve this conflict; it is also unknown whether the Norwegian side's position will change after the relegation to Division 1A.