CAS ruling reopens Russia's path to IIHF events, prompting boycotts and visa refusals

A ruling that reopens the door

On 30 October the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne overturned the IIHF's suspension of Russian ice hockey teams, which had been in place since Russia began its war against Ukraine. A three-member panel found that the security concerns the IIHF cited no longer justified a blanket exclusion. In curling, another CAS panel rejected Russia's appeal and accepted the reasons the curling federation gave, including the integrity of sport and boycott threats from other national federations. Because the CAS decision is final, the IIHF says it must implement it, and Russia would have to be readmitted to international tournaments already this season.

Germany's 2027 men's worlds in doubt

The German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) plans to host the men's world championship in May 2027 without Russia, and it considers a tournament with Russian participation unrealistic. Its chief executive, Frank H. Lutz, wants the IIHF to reconsider the exclusion on the basis of new facts.

“If new facts come to light, one can also make new decisions based on those facts.”

The IIHF council, led by German president Franz Reindl, is divided and includes several pro-Russian members, so a majority for a new decision is uncertain. The ruling could also affect Munich's Olympic bid. Germany's federal government and the DEB are in close contact, and a spokeswoman for the state minister for sport said Russian participation would make hosting the event practically impossible for sporting and economic reasons.

Visa refusals and boycott threats

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has said no visas will be issued to a Russian team for the junior world championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, which starts on 26 December. Without entry to the host country, a Russian appearance at the tournament is hard to imagine. The IIHF has rescheduled the junior tournament, removing Norway, which had qualified on the ice, and putting Russia in its place. Norway's federation says the last word has not yet been spoken. Numerous nations have threatened not to play against Russia, and Finland, the reigning world champion, has said it would boycott the men's worlds if Russia takes part. RTS reports that Switzerland has announced a boycott for its under-20 team.

Political reactions and a judge's Moscow trip

In Germany, the AfD and Die Linke both want the ruling accepted. AfD sports spokesman Jörn König, who condemns Russia's war in Ukraine, told ZDFheute that the decision should be respected.

“We consider this a return to normality. Of course visas should also be issued to the Russian athletes.”

König also pointed out that the United States was never excluded despite what he called wars violating international law. Linke sports spokesman Christian Görke argued that people should stop closing their eyes to the regrettable reality, since Russian athletes already compete again in other sports. Separately, Inside Paradeplatz reported that Giulio Palermo, the Italian who chaired the panel alongside Ismail Selim of Egypt and Mark Hovell of Britain, spoke at a legal congress in Moscow in September, organised by the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration. According to that report, the CAS knew nothing of the trip, which Palermo reportedly paid for himself, and his nomination came only after the visit. The CAS says no circumstances impair his independence. Selim attended a similar congress in Moscow in spring 2025, but no reports say the CAS was unaware of that trip. Canadian journalist Gord Miller said the undisclosed trip could give the IIHF grounds to take the case to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.

What comes next

The IIHF must show that it applies the ruling in good faith. According to 20 Minuten, a unilateral exclusion without new grounds could expose it to fresh proceedings and heavy financial penalties. The IIHF is also examining allegations that the Russian federation integrated a junior team from Donetsk, on occupied Ukrainian territory, into its system. If established, that would breach the integrity of Ukrainian sporting jurisdiction and open a new procedure rather than extend the existing suspension. Miller says Russia could challenge a visa refusal before the CAS or seek to move the tournament to a country that accepts its team. The IIHF wants to persuade Russia diplomatically to forgo world championship participation next year, while the German government says it favours a restrictive visa policy toward Russia. The junior championship starts on 26 December, and the men's worlds are scheduled for May 2027.