Northern European Federations Boycott Russia After CAS Ruling

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to reinstate Russia’s national teams in international tournaments, a decision that surprised many stakeholders. In response, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Norway, and Denmark announced they would refuse to play Russia in upcoming competitions, while the Czech federation signaled a possible boycott. The ruling takes effect immediately, and Russia is slated to appear in the World Junior Championship in Canada and the men’s World Championship in Germany. The sudden inclusion of Russia threatens to displace Ukraine, which qualified for the men’s world championship for the first time in two decades, and may force organizers to alter formats or remove a team. Host nations are already weighing restrictions; Canada has warned it will limit Russian participation in government‑funded events, and Germany has hinted it could withdraw its hosting rights if Russia competes. The IIHF will decide how to implement the ruling at a council meeting on November 2–3, with visa and scheduling logistics still unresolved.