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CAS orders IIHF to reinstate Russian ice hockey teams
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) ban on Russian teams, ordering their reinstatement for the 2026-2027 season. The ruling follows an appeal by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, with the court finding that the IIHF failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its claims that Russian participation posed a security risk.
The decision applies to several major international tournaments, including the World Junior Championship in Canada, the U18 Women’s World Championship in Czechia, the U18 Men’s World Championship in the USA, the 2027 Men’s World Championship in Germany, and the 2027 Women’s World Championship in Canada.
The IIHF expressed disappointment with the verdict, maintaining that the suspension was necessary to ensure participant safety and competition integrity. While the federation intends to respect the CAS authority, it noted that the ruling creates significant logistical and practical challenges for organizers, as many tournament formats and schedules were already finalized.
Reactions have been mixed globally. The Russian Ministry of Sport welcomed the decision, while the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) and Hockey Canada expressed strong opposition. The Swedish government has also called on the European Union to tighten visa rules for Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Entities
Anders Larsson · Court of Arbitration for Sport · Czech Ice Hockey Association · Czech Ice Hockey Federation · Frank H. Lutz · German Ice Hockey Federation · Germany · Giulio Palermo · Hockey Canada · International Ice Hockey Federation · Mikhail Degtyarev · Mikhail Degtyaryov
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 28 SOURCES] The IIHF expressed disappointment with the CAS decision. www.svd.se · www.hd.se · www.interez.sk · www.aktuelno.me · schweiznews.ch · +16 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] The decision covers the 2027 men’s, women’s, and junior World Championships, as well as U18 tournaments. www.svd.se · www.hd.se · www.interez.sk · schweiznews.ch · www.rtl.de · +11 more
- [● 34 SOURCES] The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the IIHF to allow Russian teams to compete internationally. www.svd.se · noticiaslatam.lat · www.hd.se · www.interez.sk · www.aktuelno.me · +20 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Anders Larsson stated that a boycott is not currently on the agenda for the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. www.hd.se · www.kouvolansanomat.fi
- [● 15 SOURCES] Reintegration creates logistical challenges including revised schedules and security measures. schweiznews.ch · www.sportovymagazin.sk · jauns.lv · www.echo24.cz · www.letemps.ch · +5 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] The IIHF maintains that suspending Russia was necessary for participant safety. www.hd.se · www.rtl.de · www.aktuelno.me · schweiznews.ch · www.sportovymagazin.sk · +10 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The decision applies to the 2027 Men's World Championship in Germany. www.rtl.de · schweiznews.ch · www.altoadigesport.it · www.sportovymagazin.sk · www.fehmarn24.de · +7 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] CAS ruled that IIHF's safety concerns were not sufficiently proven. www.rtl.de · www.interez.sk · www.altoadigesport.it · www.sportovymagazin.sk · www.aktuelno.me · +12 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] The German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) opposes the return of Russian teams. www.altoadigesport.it · www.rtl.de · www.fehmarn24.de · match.cy