CAS orders IIHF to readmit Russian teams to international competitions
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned five IIHF Council resolutions and ordered the federation to admit Russian teams to affected competitions in the 2026/2027 season. The ruling affects five 2027 Ice Hockey World Championships and has drawn a strong response from the Ukrainian Hockey Federation, which plans a meeting with IIHF leadership and is preparing a protest.
Key points
- CAS overturned all five resolutions of the IIHF Council concerning Russian teams
- IIHF must admit Russian teams to the affected international competitions
- Russian participation is required in five 2027 Ice Hockey World Championships
- The ruling covers competitions in the 2026/2027 IIHF season
- IIHF said it disagrees with the decision but will respect the CAS ruling
- The Ukrainian Hockey Federation called the decision unjustified and deeply disappointing
- The Ukrainian federation contacted about 35 national federations to prepare a joint protest note
Why it matters
The decision requires Russian teams to return to IIHF competitions, including five 2027 world championships. It also comes as Ukraine prepares to host the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship and is expected to appear in the elite division for the first time in 20 years, potentially affecting the tournament's preparations.
What happened
CAS upheld an appeal from the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and overturned five IIHF Council resolutions that restricted Russian teams. The court ordered IIHF to admit Russian teams to the international competitions covered by those resolutions and to ensure their participation in the relevant 2026/2027 tournaments. IIHF said it was disappointed with and disagreed with the ruling, maintaining that the earlier restrictions were necessary for participant safety and the integrity of competitions, but said it would respect the court's authority. The Ukrainian Hockey Federation rejected the decision and said it was preparing a protest while contacting roughly 35 national federations.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focused on the Ukrainian Hockey Federation's rejection of the ruling and its preparations for a meeting with IIHF leadership and a joint protest note. It also highlighted the unusual four-day CAS process, compared with the several months such cases usually take, and noted that Ukraine was not a party to the dispute. The federation had seen only the operative part of the ruling at the time of its response and had not received the full case materials.
Background
The IIHF Council suspended all Russian and Belarusian clubs and national teams on 28 February 2022 after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The IOC restored the Russian Olympic Committee's rights and lifted restrictions affecting Russian athletes and competitions in Russia on 7 July. Russia and Belarus had previously been excluded from the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship in Ukraine.