Latvia declared that it will not play hockey against Belarus and Russia. And it is not alone in this
The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation announced that the country's national teams will not play matches against teams from Russia and Belarus as long as Russian aggression against Ukraine continues. The federation's official statement says that it has adhered to this position since 2022 and has no intention of changing it. The statement appeared against the backdrop of the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the possible return of Russian teams to international competitions.

The Latvian federation also reported that in recent days they have coordinated a common position with the ice hockey federations of Finland, Norway, and Denmark. All four organizations have publicly stated and officially informed the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) that they refuse to play against Russian national teams.
The Latvian side emphasized that the main priority remains the safety and well-being of athletes, team staff, and their families. The federation is concerned about possible security threats, as well as the physical and psychological consequences of such matches for all participants.
Earlier, the ice hockey federations of Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden also announced their refusal to play against the Russian national team.
On the eve, the Court of Arbitration for Sport satisfied the appeal of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and obliged the IIHF to admit Russian national teams to a number of international competitions in 2026—2027.
The Czech betting company Tipsport, an official sponsor of the World Championship, also spoke out against the possible return of the Russian national team to international competitions.
The men's World Ice Hockey Championship in 2027 will take place in Germany from May 14 to 30.
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