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The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced in a statement published on Friday that it has overturned decisions by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to exclude Russia from events during the 2026-27 season, including the men’s and women’s world championships. In its statement, the CAS cited a lack of sufficient evidence to support the security concerns raised by the IIHF when deciding to exclude Russian teams from international competition.
Tournaments Affected by the Ruling
The court specifically ordered the IIHF to permit Russia’s participation in five upcoming tournaments, which include the Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany next May and the Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship scheduled for November 2027 in Canada. The initial tournament impacted by this ruling is the Men’s World Junior Championship, set to open in Edmonton on December 26. Meanwhile, the Women’s World Championship hosted by Denmark starting next Friday, November 6, was not mentioned in the statement.
Reactions from Officials and Federations
Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov welcomed the CAS ruling, posting on the Telegram social media app that the court had recognized the demands of the Russian Hockey Federation as justified on key points. Conversely, the IIHF voiced disappointment, stating that its original decisions were necessary to ensure the safety and security of all participants and to maintain the integrity of its competitions. The IIHF noted that while it respects the authority of CAS and will comply with the ruling, the outcome does not eliminate the concerns that initially informed its assessments. The federation also highlighted significant practical implications for competitions already in advanced stages of preparation, such as the men’s tournament hosted by Düsseldorf, Mannheim, and Gelsenkirchen, where group draws have already taken place.
Concerns in Germany and Ukraine
Germany’s ice hockey association, the DEB, also criticized the decision. DEB chairman Frank Lutz stated that their position remains unchanged regarding the rejection of Russian national teams, adding that the ruling fundamentally alters the situation for Germany as hosts of the 2027 Men’s World Championship. Lutz explained that allowing Russia to participate brings significant security, political, and economic consequences for the hosts, and the association is evaluating the ruling with the IIHF before deciding on next steps.
The tournament is also slated to feature Ukraine, marking their return to the international top flight after winning promotion at this year’s Division 1 tournament in Poland, following a 20-year absence since their relegation in 2007. The Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine (FHU) condemned the CAS decision in a statement, expressing deep indignation that the ruling was made during a full-scale war and arguing that the threats leading to the 2002 suspension of Russian teams have only intensified.
The IIHF has kept Russian teams barred from its tournaments since shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which also caused Russia to miss the prestigious Olympic hockey tournaments in Milan earlier this year. Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union, rank among the most successful ice hockey nations with 27 men’s World Championships titles, trailing only Canada with 28. Friday’s ruling arrives shortly after the IIHF elected a new president, with Germany’s Franz Reindl taking over from France’s Luc Tardif earlier this month.
