Finland and Latvia to skip Russian hockey matchups until Ukraine war ends

The International Ice Hockey Federation is set to welcome Russian teams back into international play, but two of Russia's closest geographic rivals plan to sit on the bench rather than compete against them. This development occurs after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport mandated that the IIHF reinstate Russian squads starting with the world juniors tournament in late December.

The Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced on Monday that its national teams will not face Russia in international tournaments for as long as the war in Ukraine continues. Henna Malmberg, a spokesperson for the Finnish body, stated that the organization does not believe it is alone in this position. Media reports in Latvia indicate that nation has adopted a similar stance, citing legal reasons for its refusal to play Russia. The world juniors tournament is scheduled to begin in western Canada, marking the first major event where the dispute will be tested.

The IIHF has not yet clarified the specific consequences of these planned forfeits. A message sent to the federation seeking comment on how it will handle the situation was not immediately returned. Current rules state that in the event of a forfeit, proper authorities will apply supplementary discipline at their discretion. This lack of clarity leaves the tournament structure potentially unsettled ahead of the December deadline.

Germany is currently evaluating whether it can maintain its status as host of the men's world championship next year. Frank H. Lutz, the chief executive of the German hockey federation, is traveling to Berlin this week to discuss the issue with political figures. The federation has cited extra costs associated with Russian participation and security concerns as reasons it cannot guarantee the event will proceed as planned.

Sponsors are also reacting to the reinstatement. Enock Johansson, the chief executive of Swedish furniture company AJ Products, spoke to broadcaster TV4 on Monday. AJ Products has sponsored the men's world championship since 1989 and places its logo on referee uniforms and boards. Johansson confirmed the company plans to request that its logo be removed from the championship due to the return of Russian teams.

"It’s a decision we very much regret having to make, but we all agree it’s the right one," Johansson told TV4. The Czech Republic, which hosts the women's under-18 world championship in January, has also signaled a shift in policy. A spokesperson for Czech President Petr Pavel said last week that he favors banning the participation of athletes under Russian and Belarusian flags.

The combination of national boycotts, hosting uncertainties, and sponsor pullouts creates immediate logistical and financial complications for the IIHF. The federation must now determine how to structure tournaments where key participants may refuse to play, while balancing the legal mandate to include Russian teams in the competition.