Finland Blocks Russian Hockey Teams From International Tournaments
The Finnish Ice Hockey Association will skip games against Russia until the war in Ukraine ends, a move that complicates the IIHF's schedule and challenges upcoming world championships.
By Layla Richardson ·
Finnish national hockey teams will not play against Russia in international tournaments as long as the war in Ukraine continues. The Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced this policy on Monday.
This decision follows a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week. The court ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to reinstate Russian teams. Russian players are expected to return to the roster starting with the world junior tournament in late December in western Canada.
Henna Malmberg, a spokesperson for the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, said the organization does not believe it is alone in this stance. She noted that media reports indicate Latvia is also planning a boycott for legal reasons.
The IIHF has not yet responded to requests for comment on how it will handle Finnish forfeits. The federation's rulebook states that proper authorities will apply supplementary discipline at their discretion if a team forfeits a game.
The decision creates uncertainty for other major events. Germany is currently evaluating whether it can host the men's world championship next year. The German federation cited extra costs and security concerns related to Russian participation as reasons for its hesitation. Frank H. Lutz, the German federation chief executive, will meet with political figures in Berlin this week to discuss the issue.
Sponsorship decisions are also shifting in response. AJ Products, a Swedish furniture company that has sponsored the men's world championship since 1989, plans to remove its logo from the event. Chief executive Enock Johansson told TV4 on Monday that the company regretted the decision but agreed it was the right one.
The Czech Republic will host the women's under-18 world championship in January. A spokesperson for Czech President Petr Pavel said last week that he favors banning athletes who compete under Russian and Belarusian flags.
