Sweden, Finland, and three other countries say they’ll boycott hockey games against Russia after the Court of Arbitration for Sport reinstates the Russian team

Several Northern European hockey federations, including Sweden and Finland, have announced their national teams will boycott games against Russia in international tournaments. Latvia, Norway, and Denmark have also stated they will refuse to play Russia. The Czech hockey federation is also open to considering a boycott. The Court of Arbitration for Sport recently ruled that Russia's national team must be allowed to return to international hockey competitions, with the decision taking immediate effect.

The first tournament Russia is set to participate in is the World Junior Championship, which kicks off in Canada in late December. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has criticized the ruling but stated it intends to follow it. The implications of how this ruling will play out remain uncertain, with some decisions expected to be made at an IIHF meeting scheduled for November 2–3.

Russia's return to international hockey after a 20-year absence could potentially eliminate them from the World Championship before it even starts. This story was written by a Meduza journalist and translated from Russian using an AI model that adheres to strict editorial guidelines. Every draft undergoes review by a Meduza editor before publication.

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