A severe threat from Russia to Finland – the sports minister thundered about the World Championship boycott!
The Russian Minister of Sports Mihail Degtjarjov has made severe threats to Finland and other countries that have announced their refusal to play against Russia in the ice hockey World Championships.
According to Degtjarjov, Russia intends to inform the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the actions of these countries. He threatens boycotting countries with legal actions and the loss of rights to host international competitions.
– All relevant materials will of course be submitted to the International Olympic Committee. This does not only concern countries that threaten and pressure the International Ice Hockey Federation with a boycott, but also those countries that are supposed to host tournaments in which Russians are set to compete. We are also closely monitoring them, Degtjarjov said according to the Russian news agency TASS.
– I am sure that they will all lose in court and lose their rights to host competitions if they act according to the will of their local politicians, he continued.
Degtjarjov strongly criticized the countries participating in the boycott. According to him, the decisions harm international sports.
– These boycotts actually target the sports of the entire world. Countries are taking away the opportunity for their national teams to compete and for their supporters to see matches. This is some kind of childishness, Degtjarjov scolded.
The minister specifically urged Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Latvia to reconsider their decisions. He also added that the world is significantly larger than Scandinavia or the Baltics.
– Players should represent their countries and win on the ice, not in the headlines, he stated.
Degtjarjov also raised the issue of possible forfeits. According to him, the International Ice Hockey Federation should impose 0–5 forfeits on countries that refuse to play against Russia based on the rules.
– It is important to understand that if Russia matches are boycotted, the International Ice Hockey Federation must impose a 0–5 forfeit for each match according to the rules. We do not want that. We want to compete and show our strength on the ice, not through forfeits, Degtjarjov said.
Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Latvia have announced that they will not play against Russia in the 2027 ice hockey World Championships, even if the country is granted the right to participate.
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