The International Ice Hockey Federation has barred Russian national teams from major 2027 tournaments, citing safety and security concerns.
Key facts
- •The suspension covers the 2026-2027 season, including the 2027 Men's and World Junior Championships.
- •The IIHF will review the eligibility of Russia for the 2027 Women's World Championship in November 2026.
- •The RIHF plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- •Belarusian junior and women's teams have been approved for international competition participation.
- •The IIHF cited safety, security, and sporting integrity as the reasons for the continued exclusion.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Council has extended the suspension of Russian national teams from international competitions for the 2026-2027 season. This decision prevents Russia from participating in several major tournaments, including the 2027 Men’s World Championship and the 2027 World Junior Championship.
Scope of the Suspension
The IIHF Council confirmed that Russia is excluded from the 2027 Men’s World Championship, the 2027 World Junior Championship, and both the men’s and women’s 2027 U18 World Championships. The Council cited ongoing safety, security, and sporting integrity concerns as the basis for the ruling. While Russia remains suspended, the IIHF has approved the participation of junior and women's teams from Belarus in international competitions.
Russian Response and Appeals
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF) stated it does not accept the decision and plans to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Dmitry Svishchev, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sport, also advocated for an appeal. Other Russian sports figures, including Vyacheslav Fetisov and Boris Mikhailov, criticized the decision, with Mikhailov noting surprise that the ruling occurred prior to the IIHF election scheduled for October.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by TASS (English).
