Moscow has slammed the “infantile” boycotts, warning of legal action.
Four Nordic nations, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, have announced their refusal to play against Russia at the upcoming world hockey championship, despite a court ruling clearing Russia’s return to international sports.
The boycott campaign follows a ruling last week by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) decision to suspend Russia, restoring its national team’s right to compete in international tournaments. The decision covers five championships in 2027, including the World Junior Championship in Canada and the men’s World Championship in Germany. The IIHF expressed “disappointment” but pledged to comply, although Russia’s return has complicated preparations for tournaments with schedules already in place.
Finland’s Ice Hockey Federation announced on Monday that it will refuse to face Russia at the 2027 World Championship in Germany, scheduled for May 13-30. Denmark, Norway and Sweden followed suit on Tuesday, pledging to boycott matches against Russia while playing their remaining fixtures.
Finnish Ice Hockey Federation president Heikki Hietanen said his organization was coordinating with other countries on a joint boycott. Latvia and the Czech Republic have since joined the boycott, while Austria is reportedly considering doing the same.
Meanwhile, Germany is weighing whether to host the championship at all. Following the CAS ruling, German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) chairman Frank Lutz said talks were underway with the government over the political, economic, and security implications of Russia’s return, as it “fundamentally changes the situation.”
Separately, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to represent their countries at the World Junior Championship scheduled to begin on December 26 in Alberta.
“If you’re asking specifically about the world juniors, the Russians will not be there,” Carney told reporters on Tuesday.
‘Infantile’ boycotts
Moscow has accused the boycotters of putting politics above sport. Russian Sports Minister and Olympic Committee chief Mikhail Degtyarev branded the campaign “infantile” and said threats from Nordic and other countries will be referred to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
He warned that countries attempting to pressure the IIHF, including prospective tournament hosts, could face legal action and lose hosting rights.
“These boycotts are directed against international sport,” Degtyarev said, arguing that they deprive national teams of competition and fans of the spectacle. “People are already fed up with the discrimination against Russia and Belarus on the basis of nationality.”
The official urged countries threatening boycotts to “come to their senses” and uphold the Olympic principle that “sport should unite nations.” He also warned that teams refusing to face Russia could be handed automatic 5-0 defeats under IIHF rules.
The Kremlin was similarly unimpressed with Germany’s hosting dilemma. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested the championship could simply be moved elsewhere if Berlin pulled out.
“There are plenty of countries,” he said. “If the federation wants to, it can hold it in another country.”
The politics of exclusion
Russian and Belarusian athletes were barred from numerous international competitions following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Earlier this year, however, the IOC provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, paving the way for a broader return as several sports federations eased restrictions.
“The international sports family is in the process of returning to the fundamental principles governing the world of sports,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month, citing “equality, justice, mutual respect and the unifying power of sport.”
The shift has met resistance from Kiev’s Western backers. Earlier this month, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Brussels was considering fresh restrictions, promising proposals to “sustain Russia’s isolation in global sports.”
Moscow has long accused Western governments of pressuring international federations to exclude Russian athletes as part of a broader campaign to isolate the country. Russian officials have condemned what they call the “politicization” of sport and pointed to what they see as double standards in the treatment of countries involved in military conflicts.
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