MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to allow Russian teams to participate in international competitions after an appeal by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF).
TASS has compiled the main facts of this event.
Cancellation of all IIHF resolutions
- CAS cancelled all five resolutions of the IIHF Council, which said that it was impossible for Russians to participate in the competition, recognized the requirements of the RIHF on the key points as justified and reversed previous IIHF decisions.
- The IIHF interests in these proceedings were represented by the international law firm Curtis, as well as General Director of the federation Dmitry Kurbatov and his deputy Alexander Kiknadze.
- The FHR statement says that the international federation is obliged to ensure the participation of the Russian national teams in the IIHF tournaments in the 2026/27 season. The Russian organization emphasizes that the CAS decision is final and cannot be appealed.
- The RIHF said that difficult work is ahead together with the IIHF to implement the CAS decision and return the Russian teams.
Reasons for the CAS decision
- The CAS pointed out that the arguments of the IIHF on the security issues and other concerns were not supported by sufficient evidence.
- The Arbitration Panel also noted that the IIHF disciplinary committee had previously found insufficient evidence to comply with the legal grounds necessary to suspend Russians from participating in competitions.
- The FHR's appeal was granted on the basis that, according to the current IIHF regulations, only reasonable security concerns can serve as grounds for restricting participation of athletes of a certain nationality in competitions.
- The decisions of the IIHF council on non-admission are annulled by arbitration with their immediate entry into force. However, the panel of the court did not prescribe alternative measures (for example, the introduction of neutral status) and did not consider the organizational consequences, since these requirements were not stated and were not the subject of appeal.
The IIHF reaction
- In its statement, the IIHF said it was disappointed with the CAS decision and disagreed with its immediate entry into force.
- The international federation insists that the measures it took earlier were aimed at the safety of all participants and preserving the integrity of the competitions.
- The IIHF said they will urgently assess the necessary steps and time costs for the execution of the court's decision and analyze the operational consequences.
- IIHF Council member Viesturs Koziols told TASS that the council meeting, where the CAS decision will be considered, is scheduled for November 2-3.
- The IIHF recognizes the CAS authority and will act in accordance with its decision.
- The international federation also said that the arbitration decision would entail major changes in the competition, including coordination with national federations, revision of tournament formats, schedules, logistics, and security measures.
- The IIHF said that the CAS decision does not take into account practical aspects that cannot be implemented immediately.
Reaction to the court's decision
- The hockey federations of Germany and the Czech Republic have already opposed the return of the Russian national teams to the tournaments. The Finnish association also said there was no reason for the participation of the teams of Russia and Belarus, but pledged to comply with IIHF decisions.
- The Continental Hockey League said it is too early to talk about possible changes in the structure of the league calendar. Consultations will be held with the RIHF on the procedure for attracting league players to international competitions.
- Dmitry Svishchev, a member of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, told TASS that CAS had made the right decision and it was difficult to imagine world hockey without Russians.
- Roman Rotenberg, first vice president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, said he hopes for constructive cooperation with the IIHF on further consideration of the return of Russian teams to the competition.
- Vyacheslav Koloskov, honorary president of the Russian Football Union, and Andrey Kirilenko, president of the Russian Basketball Federation, hope that the CAS decision would give an impetus to the domestic return of football and basketball teams.