IIHF appeals CAS ruling on Russia's return over arbitrator conflicts

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging its ruling that ordered the return of Russian national teams to international competition, citing potential conflicts of interest among two of the three arbitrators. The IIHF questions the independence of arbitrators Giulio Palermo of Italy and Ismail Selim of Egypt, alleging they failed to disclose ties to Russia, including visits to Moscow for legal events in 2025 and 2026. The appeal follows CAS's October 30 decision mandating Russia's participation in five tournaments for the 2026/27 season. Canada has already refused entry to Russian players for the World Junior Championship, and several European federations, including Norway, Sweden, and Finland, have stated they will not play against Russia. The appeal's impact on the CAS ruling remains unclear.