Ice Hockey World Championship Sponsors Increase Pressure on IIHF over Russia’s Return
Sponsors and several federations are threatening boycotts as the IIHF weighs how to handle Russia’s return after a CAS ruling.
- Following a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling on Friday, several European ice hockey federations—including Finland and Sweden—declared yesterday they will refuse to play against Russia in upcoming international matches.
- The International Ice Hockey Federation had barred Russia from global competition since 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine; the CAS overturned this ban, asserting the IIHF's safety concerns 'were not supported by sufficient evidence.'
- Major sponsors including automaker Skoda, workwear maker Strauss, and furniture firm AJ Products—which has backed the championship for 37 years—said they will "reassess" involvement if Russia competes, citing incompatibility with corporate values.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be barred from competing in Canada, specifically ruling out participation in next month's World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta.
- Russian ambassador Oleg Stepanov accused Ottawa of "bringing politics even into junior hockey," while Germany faces uncertainty over hosting the 2027 Men's World Championship as the IIHF warns of "significant practical and sporting challenges" from the ruling.
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175 Articles
The Province
Vancouver SunIIHF's European sponsors are saying 'no' to Russia. Where do the Canadian sponsors stand?
So far, there has been silence from this side of the corporate Atlantic.
The car manufacturer Skoda stated that it would "re-evaluate" its participation if Russia took part in the competition.
A company from Hesse is investigating consequences for the 2027 World Hockey Championships in Germany. The trigger is a verdict on the question of Russia:
Ice hockey world championship sponsors increase pressure on IIHF over Russia’s return
DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — The pressure on the International Ice Hockey Federation grew Wednesday as two major sponsors of the men’s world championship said they would review their involvement if Russia takes part. The tournament’s main sponsor, automaker Skoda, says it will “reassess” its involvement if Russia plays, and another longtime backer, Strauss, says it...
On October 30, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne ruled that Russian teams must be allowed to participate in events organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), including the World Championships. The CAS thus overturned the IIHF's decisions. The Federation banned Russian teams from competition in February 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the federation has extended the ban multiple times – mo…
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