Finland vows not to play ice hockey matches against Russia while the war in Ukraine continues

Finland's national ice hockey team will not play against Russia for as long as Moscow's war against Ukraine continues, Finnish Ice Hockey Association chairman Heikki Hietanen said on Monday.

The association will work to prevent Russia from taking part in international tournaments despite a recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordering the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to allow the country back into competition.

"We have aligned our own position so that Finland will not play against Russia," Hietanen said in a statement issued by the association.

"Our line is that we will not play against Russia as long as the war of aggression against Ukraine continues," he added.

Finland seeks wider international boycott

Hietanen said Finland had been working to establish a common position with other Nordic countries and major hockey nations in Central Europe, hoping to persuade as many associations as possible to adopt the same stance.

"Of course, it will be impossible to organise the games if so many countries boycott by not playing against Russia," he said.

He did not identify the countries involved, explaining that their hockey associations were still discussing the issue internally and would announce their decisions independently.

Finnish Sports Minister Mika Poutala welcomed the association's position and said he believed Russia would not participate in next spring's world championship in Germany.

Emma Terho, a member of the Executive Board of the European Olympic Committees, also described Finland's stance as firm and urged other countries to join the effort. She appeared alongside Poutala on Finnish broadcaster Yle's A-Studio programme.

CAS ruling sparks debate over Russia's return

The CAS ruled on Friday that the IIHF must allow Russia to return to international competition immediately, challenging the restrictions imposed following Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Hietanen initially described the ruling as incomprehensible but said Finland would not boycott the world championship and would comply with decisions by the international sports court and the IIHF.

According to Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat, those comments prompted concern within the Finnish Ice Hockey Association because its board had not yet agreed on how to respond if Russia were permitted to compete.

The association has since clarified its position, committing Finland not to play against Russia while the war in Ukraine continues.

TRT World and Agencies — TRT World and Agencies

Photo: AFP