Leading ice hockey nations, sponsors oppose Russia's return

The Court of Arbitration says Russian teams can return to international ice hockey, but against whom? And where? Image: Maksim Konstantinov/Imago Images

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) said in a statement on Wednesday that the impact of last week's Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision requiring it to reinstate Russia to international play had been "significantly underestimated."

It added that it "maintains" its disagreement with the decision and that it remained "in dialogue with Member National Associations, organizing committees, host authorities and other key stakeholders to determine the best way forward."

Shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 , the IIHF barred its teams from competing in international ice hockey tournaments , citing security concerns. In last Friday's ruling, the CAS said that the IIHF's concerns were "not supported by sufficient evidence."

Wednesday's statement comes after two days of talks by the IIHF Council aimed at charting a way forward following Friday's CAS decision, which appears to have caught most of the international ice hockey community off guard.

Two of the organizing committees the statement refers to are those of Canada, which is due to host the IIHF World Junior Championship starting next month, and Germany, which is to host the IIHF Men's World Championship next May. Both countries are strong supporters of Ukraine in its war against Russia, and both have expressed serious reservations about their upcoming tournaments in light of the CAS ruling.

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