IIHF Reverses Ban: Russian Teams' Fate Now Decided Event-by-Event
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has shifted its stance, overturning the blanket ban on Russian teams for the 2026-27 season. Instead, team eligibility will be decided individually. This follows the re-entrance of Belarus into select championships, with Russian appeals influencing the decision, amid ongoing political tensions and security concerns.
The International Ice Hockey Federation has reconsidered its previous decision, lifting the blanket ban on Russian teams for the 2026-27 competitions. Instead, the IIHF will evaluate Russia's eligibility for each event individually, significantly shifting from its earlier stance.
The announcement follows the federation's reinstatement of Belarus in three tournaments for the same season. These include the U18 World Men's Championship, Women's World Championship Division IV, and U18 World Women's Championship Division IIIB, albeit maintaining Russia's ban since 2022 due to its Ukraine invasion.
Although the IIHF council had upheld Russia's exclusion in January, prioritized safety led to a disciplinary board overturning this stance. Russia's reintegration is contingent on detailed event-by-event assessments, with Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev emphasizing continued legal efforts to challenge the ban.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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