Finland's national ice hockey team will refuse to face Russia for as long as Moscow's war against Ukraine continues, the Finnish Ice Hockey Association said on Monday, Yle News reported. Association chairman Heikki Hietanen said Finland's position was simply that it would not play Russia.
The announcement follows a ruling on Friday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordering the International Ice Hockey Federation to allow Russia back into international competition. The next world championships are due to be held in Germany in May. Finland hopes other countries, especially its Nordic neighbours, will take the same stance, since tournaments involving Russia would become unworkable if several teams declined to play. Senior Finnish politicians have also criticised the decision to readmit Russia to international hockey events.
Source: Yle News