“The International Ice Hockey Federation has not yet changed its tough stance on Russia and Belarus, but for the first time in a long time it is allowing the possibility of an exception. We are talking about junior and youth teams, whose participation can be reconsidered already from the 2027/28 season. At the same time, adult national teams and clubs of the aggressor countries remain under a complete ban. This is reported by the IIHF. The IIHF said”, — write on: ua.news
The International Ice Hockey Federation has not yet changed its tough stance on Russia and Belarus, but for the first time in a long time it is allowing the possibility of an exception. We are talking about junior and youth teams, whose participation can be reconsidered already from the 2027/28 season. At the same time, adult national teams and clubs of the aggressor countries remain under a complete ban. It is reported IIHF .
The IIHF said that after another risk analysis, the federation came to the conclusion that the current security situation does not allow the return of adult national teams and club teams to international tournaments. It is not only about the hockey players themselves, but also about the safety of judges, staff, organizers and fans. “Our priority remains the safe and stable holding of competitions. Under the current conditions, we cannot guarantee this in the case of the participation of adult teams from Russia and Belarus,” the IIHF noted.
At the same time, the federation for the first time publicly made it clear that it is ready to consider the participation of junior and youth teams separately. This approach is explained by the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, which calls on sports federations to find individual solutions for younger athletes. The IIHF clarified that a potential return could apply to championships starting in the 2027/28 season and only if the risks are significantly reduced. We are talking about both national junior national teams and youth club teams.
The organization emphasizes: the very fact of discussion does not mean automatic admission. If the analysis of the security situation in the coming months shows positive dynamics, only then will the IIHF start consultations with national federations on possible formats for the return of youth. “No decisions have been made in advance. Security remains a key factor,” the federation emphasized.
The national teams and clubs of Russia and Belarus have been under complete suspension from international hockey since February 2022 — since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine. Since then, the teams of both countries do not participate in world championships and other official tournaments under the auspices of the IIHF.
Experts note that even cautious signals about juniors can cause heated debate in the hockey community. For many federations, the issue of admitting athletes from aggressor countries remains not only a sporting one, but also a matter of principle.
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