Putin orders aggressive legal action over ice hockey bans
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered "aggressive diplomatic and legal actions" after several countries refused to play against Russia in ice hockey, according to Sports Minister Mikhail Degtjarev. Finland, Sweden, Czechia, Norway, Denmark, and Latvia have refused to face Russia, while Canada plans to block Russian player visas for the upcoming youth World Championship. Degtjarev said Russia has filed a complaint with the International Ice Hockey Federation's disciplinary body. The International Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on October 30 that the IIHF must reinstate Russia, which was banned in 2022 following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia's first potential return would be at the youth tournament in Canada, with the men's championship scheduled for spring in Germany.