Russia threatens sanctions over exclusion from IIHF tournaments, Digi Mart USA News: Russia has threatened legal action against Canada and Germany after the two IIHF tournament hosts moved to keep Russian teams out of international competition. The dispute follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling last month that found the security concerns cited by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for barring Russian teams were not sufficient.
Russian Ice Hockey Federation President Vladislav Tretiak told the TASS news agency that if Canada and Germany refused to allow Russian teams to participate, Russia would demand compensation, seek postponement of the competitions and impose sanctions on the organizers. He also said the IIHF should either allow Russia to participate or move or cancel the championship.
The threat came after the Canadian government confirmed on Wednesday that it would not allow Russian players to take part in the IIHF World Junior Championship, which begins on December 26 in Alberta. Canadian Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden said in a statement that as long as Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, there can be no return to business as usual.
The IIHF had pledged to work to comply with the CAS decision. Norway said it had been removed from the World Juniors and told that Russia would take its place, and several other national associations said they had received a revised schedule and would not play Russia.
The IIHF has not confirmed that change.
Germany, which is due to host the IIHF World Championship in Gelsenkirchen, Mannheim and Düsseldorf from May 14, has also been drawn into the dispute. A German government spokesman described hosting the tournament under these conditions as “effectively impossible,” and major sponsors have reportedly threatened to withdraw.
Germany has, however, ruled out refusing visas as Canada has done. Minister of State for Sport Ronald Rauhe said that approach was not a solution, while expressing support for the German Ice Hockey Federation’s wish to host the event as planned.
Officials are also weighing the potential effect on Munich’s bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2036, 2040 or 2044. The International Olympic Committee has recently lifted sanctions on Russian athletes and the suspension of the Russian National Olympic Committee, and the IOC is expected to decide within weeks whether Munich advances in its bid process. The outcome of the World Junior dispute is seen as a possible signal for the men’s tournament in Germany.
