Top hockey nations boycott games against Russia after CAS ruling
Finland's national ice hockey team (photo: olympiakomitea.fi)
Five of Europe's leading hockey federations have officially announced that they will refuse to play against Russian national teams at world championships. The move follows a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordering the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to reinstate Russian teams in competitions for the 2026/27 season.
Coalition of protest
Finland has led the opposition to the CAS ruling. Heikki Hietanen, head of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, stressed that the country's national teams would not play any matches against Russian teams as long as Russia's military aggression against Ukraine continues. Finland is actively bringing other countries together to deliver a united and unequivocal refusal to share the ice with Russian teams to the IIHF.
Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Latvia have also joined the protest, while Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria have expressed support:
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Finland and Sweden: Both countries stress that they will not take the ice against Russia because of their principled stance on the war in Ukraine and the lack of security guarantees. At the same time, their national teams are not withdrawing from the tournaments themselves.
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Denmark: Federation President Henrik Bach Nielsen said he had consulted with national team captain Jesper Jensen and had already informed the IIHF leadership in Zurich. The Danes consider playing against Russia a direct threat to hockey's integrity and believe it would turn competitions into chaos.
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Norway and Latvia: Both countries have emphasized the need to protect the mental and physical well-being of athletes and their families, as matches under the current circumstances pose significant security risks.
Refusing to play against Russia could result in serious disciplinary consequences for the national teams from the IIHF, ranging from forfeits to forced relegation to a lower division.
Loss of sponsors, threat of 2027 World Championship cancellation
Russia's return has also triggered a financial and organizational crisis in international hockey. Swedish company AJ Produkter, an official sponsor of the World Championship for 37 years, announced it would withdraw its logos and end its partnership with the 2027 tournament.
In addition, the men's 2027 World Championship, scheduled to take place in Germany from May 14 to 30, is now at risk. The German Ice Hockey Federation has raised concerns about security and additional costs, while the host country is already considering legal options to withdraw from hosting the tournament.
