European hockey teams and sponsors boycott Russian return after CAS ruling
Several European national ice hockey teams and commercial partners have rejected Russia's participation after the Court of Arbitration for Sport allowed Russian teams back into International Ice Hockey Federation competitions. The boycott threatens the 2027 men's World Championship in Germany, where Ukraine is due to appear in the elite division for the first time in 20 years.
Key points
- CAS ruled on October 30 that Russian teams may return to IIHF competitions, including the 2027 men's and women's World Championships.
- The ruling overturned the suspension imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
- Hockey federations from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden announced a boycott of matches against Russia.
- Latvia will refuse to play against both Russia and Belarus while Russia's war in Ukraine continues.
- Sweden's AJ Produkter ended its championship sponsorship, while Finland's Nokian Renkaat and Czech bookmaker Tipsport threatened to withdraw support.
- The 2027 men's championship is scheduled for Germany, with reported start dates of May 13 or May 14 and an end date of May 30.
- Ukraine qualified for the elite division for the first time in 20 years and has the lowest rating among the 16 teams, raising fears it could lose its place if Russia is admitted without expanding the field.
Why it matters
The refusals threaten both the participation and commercial backing of the 2027 men's World Championship in Germany. The tournament remains limited to 16 teams, and Ukraine has the lowest rating among them, so admitting Russia without expanding the field could cost Ukraine the elite-division place it has earned after a 20-year absence. The withdrawals of teams, sponsors, advertisers and betting partners also underscore the broader division over Russia's restoration to international hockey.
What happened
On October 30, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Russian teams could again participate in IIHF competitions, overturning the suspension imposed after the 2022 invasion and finding the safety evidence cited by the federation insufficient. Several European federations then announced that their national teams would not play against Russia, citing security concerns and the continuing war in Ukraine. Latvia extended its refusal to matches against Belarus, while Norway said it would still play its other schedule matches. Commercial partners also responded: AJ Produkter ended its sponsorship, Nokian Renkaat said it would withdraw if Russian teams participated, and Tipsport ruled out advertising and betting on Russian matches. The IIHF and the German host federation said they opposed Russian participation.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage centers on the direct risk to Ukraine's first elite-division appearance in 20 years. With the field fixed at 16 teams and Ukraine holding the lowest rating among them, an additional Russian place without expanding the tournament could displace the Ukrainian team. Ukrainian sources also highlight the security rationale for refusing matches with Russia and Canada's consideration of a response to the court ruling.
How international sources describe it
International coverage focuses on coordinated refusals by European national teams and on commercial partners withdrawing sponsorship, advertising and betting support. Reactions are framed around safety, national values, the continuing war in Ukraine and possible boycotts of the 2027 men's championship and the 2028 youth championship in Finland. The dispute remains divided: the IIHF and the host federation oppose Russian participation, while the court has permitted it.
Where reporting differs
Sources disagree on the identities of the four European federations announcing a boycott. Most reports name Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, while one substitutes the Czech Republic for Sweden. The reported start date of the 2027 championship also differs, with sources giving either May 13 or May 14, 2027; the end date is May 30.
Background
The 2027 men's Ice Hockey World Championship is scheduled for Germany, with reports placing it from May 13 or 14 through May 30. Ukraine qualified for the elite division for the first time in 20 years by finishing second in the first division, and its group includes Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Austria, Slovakia, Latvia and Slovenia. CAS's ruling overturned the suspension of Russian teams imposed after the full-scale invasion in 2022, while Latvia's boycott covers matches against both Russia and Belarus.