CAS Allows Russia to Compete in 2027 Ice Hockey World Championships Despite IIHF Ban — World news

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation's decision to exclude Russian teams from the 2026/2027 season, permitting their participation in upcoming World Championships including the men's tournament in Germany. While the ruling cites insufficient evidence to support security concerns, the German Ice Hockey Federation has strongly criticized the decision, highlighting significant safety and political implications for hosting the event.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that Russian teams are permitted to participate in events organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). This decision overturns a previous ruling by the world governing body that had excluded Russia from competitions during the 2026/2027 season. The authorization covers the men's and women's World Championships, as well as junior and U18 tournaments. Specifically, this includes the men's World Championship scheduled to be hosted in Germany next year and the women's tournament set for November 2027 in Canada.

CAS justified its ruling by stating that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the security concerns raised by the IIHF. In response, the IIHF expressed disappointment but affirmed its respect for the court's authority, committing to act in accordance with the verdict. The federation maintained that its original exclusion decision was necessary to protect participant safety and preserve competition integrity, noting that the ruling does not eliminate the underlying concerns that informed their initial assessment.

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev stated via Telegram that CAS had recognized the core demands of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation as legitimate. This marks a shift from the current situation where Russian teams have been barred from IIHF World Championships since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and were also absent from this year's Olympic ice hockey tournaments.

The German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) reacted with sharp criticism to the reinstatement. Frank H. Lutz, the federation's chairman, reiterated their unchanged position against the return of Russian national teams to international ice hockey events. He emphasized that allowing Russia fundamentally alters the situation for the 2027 World Championship in Germany, creating significant security, political, and economic consequences for the host nation. The DEB is currently evaluating the ruling alongside the IIHF to determine the next steps.

It is important to note that while this ruling permits Russia's participation, it does not guarantee their presence at the tournament, as qualification requirements remain a separate matter.

Sources: Der Spiegel.